Investigation of Prophetic and Other Scriptures Concerning the Messiah and Israel from Genesis and More
Books by Misop Baynun
Israel’s Homecoming
Throngs of Iniquity
Book of Band Names
Investigation of Prophetic and Other Scriptures Concerning the Messiah and Israel from Genesis and More
ISRAEL’S HOMECOMING. Copyright © 2003–2010 by Misop Baynun. All rights reserved. For information, address:
MagPro Publishing Boston, PO Box XXX, Boston, MA 02117 USA
Telephone: +1-617-269-6237 or +1-888-5-MagPro (+1-888-562-4776)
E-mail: Publishing@MagPro.com
Or
MagPro Publishing Jerusalem, PO Box 195, Jerusalem 91003 ISRAEL
Telephone: +972-54-774-8192
E-mail: Publishing@MagPro.com
Library of Congress
Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Baynun, Misop, 1968-
Israel’s Homecoming: Investigation of Prophetic and Other Scriptures Concerning the Messiah and Israel from Genesis and More / Misop Baynun—1st MagPro Publishing’s Press ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 10: 1-934605-01-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-934605-01-1
1. Biblical Studies 2. Jesus 3. Israel 4. Messianic Jewish 5. Prophecy 6. Yeshua I title
XX00.0 .X000 2010
000.0-xx00
2010070601
This title is available and correspondence is possible via the following:
Web: www.MagPro.com, Books.MagPro.com, Publishing.MagPro.com, www.MisopBaynun.com, www.IsraelsHomecoming.com, or IsraelsHomecoming.MagPro.com
E-mail: Publishing@MagPro.com, MisopBaynun@MagPro.com, or info@MagPro.com
Telephone: North America: +1-617-269-6237 or +1-888-5-MagPro (+1-888-562-4776) Israel: +972-54-774-8192
The Scripture verses cited in this book are from the King James Version, Public Domain, unless otherwise noted.
Cover illustration by Michael J. Deal
Cover photo by Misop Baynun
Editorial assistance by Heather Sanders, KJ Hamilton, Hermes Mc. Grath, Anat Viniar, Brian Corcoran, WS Dunigan, Bruce Field Miller, Paul B. Schlosberg, Sam Rucker, Mark Scanlan, William Grady, Sandra Jean Miller, and Teddy Chadwick
Master file: israel’s_homecoming_2010-07-06a.docx
I acknowledge all who have opened their hearts to your truth and love, oh Lord, Adonai, those who have the humility to listen to your Spirit’s guidance, and those you are now calling into your inner chamber.
I dedicate this book to the living God, the creator of Heaven and Earth and of our souls—the author of our salvation. Thank you for creating us so wonderfully in your image and loving us so dearly that you desire us to be your children. Thank you for your omnipotent faithfulness, grace, and love.
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Table of Contents
Juggling Falafel Balls While Whistling a Joyous Tune
The King’s Love for a Servant Girl
Yeshua’s First Coming & Gospel Foreshadowing
6) bruise thy head…bruise his heel
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Yeshua’s First Coming
8) the man is become as one of us
Yeshua’s Preexistence & Gospel Foreshadowing
10) brought of the firstlings of his flock
12) dwell in the tents of Shem
Yeshua’s Preexistence, Gospel Foreshadowing, & Holy Spirit
14) bless…that bless thee…all families…blessed
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
Yeshua’s First Coming & Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
17) establish…with him…everlasting covenant
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
18) Shall I hide…all…blessed in him?
Gospel Foreshadowing & Yeshua’s First Coming
19) God will provide himself a lamb
20) in thy seed…all…nations…blessed
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
21) Isaac and Ishmael buried him
22) in thy seed…all…nations…blessed
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
25) in thy seed…all…families…blessed
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
27) I have seen God face to face
Yeshua’s Preexistence & Israel’s Homecoming
Gospel Foreshadowing & Israel’s Homecoming
Israel’s Homecoming & Gospel Foreshadowing
30) did not pursue after the sons of Jacob
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
Yeshua’s First Coming & Gospel Foreshadowing
34) Joseph brought…evil report
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
37) whether it be well with thy brethren
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
41) blessed the Egyptian's house
42) Joseph was a goodly person
43) I lifted up my voice and cried
44) he was there in the prison
Yeshua’s Post Death Experience
45) Wherefore look ye so sadly
Yeshua’s Post Death Experience
46) only in the throne will I be greater
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
47) all countries came…to Joseph
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Israel’s Homecoming
48) Why do ye look one upon another?
50) bowed down themselves before him
53) therefore is this distress…upon us
54) turned…about from them, and wept
57) all these things are against me
58) If I be bereaved…I am bereaved
59) did yearn upon his brother
60) let thy servant abide instead of the lad
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
61) made himself known unto…brethren
62) God did send me…to preserve life
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
63) bring down my father hither
64) kissed all his brethren, and wept
66) It is enough; Joseph…is yet alive
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Israel’s Homecoming
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Israel’s Homecoming
68) in the best of the land…to dwell
69) thou shalt carry me out of Egypt
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Israel’s Homecoming
70) Judah, thou…brethren shall praise
Yeshua’s First Coming & Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
Yeshua’s First Coming & Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
73) he washed his garments in wine
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Israel’s Homecoming
74) I have waited for thy salvation
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
75) utmost bound of the everlasting hills
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Israel’s Homecoming
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
Five Hebrew Words for God with Usage in Genesis and Bible
Definitions of Hebrew Words from Deuteronomy 6:4
Preface
God will bring his children home. God is bringing his children of Israel home. Many of the children of Israel have already come home to God via Yeshua. Israel’s homecoming is upon us.
Psalm 22:23–24
23 Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.
24 For he hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath he hid his face from him; but when he cried unto him, he heard.
Isaiah 35:10
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 49:5–6
5 And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Isaiah 59:20
20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 62:1
1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
Isaiah 62:6–7
6 I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Isaiah 62:11–12
11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Would you like to investigate prophecies about Israel’s homecoming? Do you want to perceive the future of Israel? Would you like to see where references to Yeshua in the Tanakh (Jesus in the Old Testament) are? Do you care to understand how these are interrelated? While pointing out Messianic prophecies, prophecies concerning Israel, and other passages found in Genesis (Bereshiyt) and throughout other books of the Bible, Israel’s homecoming is a major point of discussion in this book. In Israel’s Homecoming, the author Misop Baynun sheds some light on this matter.
It seems that much of the world’s interest hovers around the state of affairs of this small country of Israel in the Middle East and around the children of Israel residing throughout the world. It also seems that God and Satan are very interested, possibly toward different aims, in how the children of Israel are doing. Referencing the Word of God recorded in Bereshiyt and throughout other books of the Bible, Misop points out prophecies through which God paints for us quite a beautiful picture portraying the future of Israel via Israel’s homecoming. A commentary on and a descriptive analysis of these prophecies and their fulfillment, or potential future fulfillment, is given.
Even if many of these prophecies reach fulfillment by the time you start reading the book, still, you might enjoy it. God is good to know. Having a relationship with God is a nice thing to have. Staying connected with God is very enjoyable. Digging deep into God digs us deep into life. Knowledge of our creator’s tips for living life to the fullest is beneficial to us.
The author shows Messianic prophecies and other Scriptures concerning Yeshua Mashiach (Jesus Christ) of Nazareth. Approximately 196 prophecies from the Tanakh concerning the Messiah reached fulfillment in Yeshua’s first coming, statistically verifying that he is the Messiah—and that God exists. The rest of the roughly 453 prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled after his death on the cross, after his resurrection, or will be fulfilled in due time at his second coming or beyond.
Yeshua is the Jewish Rabbi who came from everlasting. He proclaimed revelations from God foreshadowed in the writings of the Tanakh.
John 1:49–50
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
Misop attempts to reveal God’s love for Israel, as well as God’s love for all of God’s creation—including Palestinians. The author goes over prophecies revealing the children of Israel’s presently occurring acceptance of Yeshua and their potential future large-scale further acceptance of him. Although some of the prophecies about Israel’s homecoming were written about 3,500 years ago, fulfillment of many of these, and all of the other Israel’s homecoming prophecies, has either already begun, or are, I pray, on the cusp of fulfillment.
Just as a book from the Bible addressed to a particular people—for example, the Israelites, the Romans, or the Corinthians—can be useful to those who are not in that people group, this book could be a blessing for Israelis and non-Israelis alike.
Why is Israel’s homecoming important to non-Israelis? Israel’s homecoming is a precursor to the bodily resurrection of the saints of God.
Romans 11:15
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
We can be ready for and a part of the fulfillment of God’s prophecies. Inspired by Yeshua’s calling for us to share the Good News with all people, God can enable his children of Israel, or of anyone else, in the furthering of his kingdom.
The end-times have many dramatic things happening; yet Israel’s homecoming is a bright spot among them. During the end-times, we will see awe-inspiring fulfillment of God’s prophecies, with some trying situations along the way. Yet ultimately, God is working to bring people toward him—and in due course, into a wonderful time for those so drawn. So take heart.
John 14:1–3
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
The further establishment of an even closer relationship between God and even more of the children of Israel via Yeshua is continuing to bless us. The recent strong growth of Messianic Judaism and the increase in number of Messianic Israelis (or Christian Israelis) helps confirm that we are in a very spectacular time in history. God prophesied Israel’s homecoming through Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zechariah, Yeshua, Paul, and through many others.
The LORD will pour out on the children of Israel a spirit of grace and of deep prayers. They will look upon the Father, who was pierced in the ordeal of placing the penalty for the people of the world’s sin on his Son, Yeshua, the one pierced for their deliverance, and they will mourn for having rejected God the Father’s plan for their salvation and for having rejected God’s firstborn and only begotten Son. They will weep for him and will be in bitterness over this, similar to the bitterness one might experience over the loss of one’s only and firstborn son.
Zechariah 12:10
10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Do you hear the LORD saying to the children of Israel, “There is hope for your future; your children will come home to me”?
Jeremiah 31:17
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
While attending a local synagogue, Misop had the desire to investigate even further and do an in-depth study of prophetic and other passages that he and his congregation studied during the Shabbat (Sabbath) services. A warm letter written to a friend is the format of this book, yet all have permission to read it. Misop’s friend, to whom he writes, is the Teacher of the Law at this synagogue. This book is for all the children of Israel, all the sons and daughters of God, and anyone interested in investigating God’s Word to all of us.
Some might feel that the Holy Scriptures contain a nice bunch of stories that do not speak directly to us today; yet many are awestruck by the richness of God’s Word—of how deep and applicable it is to our lives. The inspired Word of God can reveal manifold messages, including salvation, historic events, instructions for living, prophetic proclamations, and more. God can even reveal different combinations of these with the same words. For example, we could do another topical study about God’s patience with people—to help inspire our own patience with God—and quote from many of the same passages quoted in this study. The Holy Scriptures are able to act as a lamppost of salvation. As it is written in 2 Timothy 3:15, “And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
People could use Israel’s Homecoming as a study group aid. Bible study groups could traverse through the text on a daily, weekly, monthly, or other time coordinate basis. Participants could read portions and then discuss topics brought up at significant junctures. If people preferred, they could also go through the entire book of Genesis, and where Israel’s Homecoming has commentary or questions and exercises concerning certain passages found in the book of Genesis, they could refer back to this book. Whether for small or large group meetings or studies, or even for personal reflection, Israel’s Homecoming could be useful and enjoyable to you.
Consider digging deeper with the study questions and exercises under the heading “Digging Deeper”—presented in most chapters. Although “Digging Deeper” questions and exercises are present in neither the introductory chapters before “Chapter 1) God created” nor the “Epilogue” and the chapters that follow it, you could still discuss and consider topics brought up as you go through these chapters. Even though some of the questions asked in the “Digging Deeper” sections could provoke simple one-word answers, consider elaborating and giving answers that are more thorough if you see fit, even if not explicitly asked to do so.
Digging deep into God rests our spiritual houses on a solid foundation.
Luke 6:47–49
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
We can dig deep into God for God has dug deep for us.
1 Corinthians 2:7–16
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Understanding and reflecting on God and allowing God’s love to overflow us breathes life into our souls.
Luke 24:45
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
You may send answers to the “Digging Deeper” questions and exercises to the Israel’s Homecoming web site at <www.IsraelsHomecoming.com> or <IsraelsHomecoming.MagPro.com>. There, you could possibly post your own answers, if you wanted to share your thoughts on these matters with others; see other people’s responses; and enter into any of the discussion groups available. If you prefer, you could always just skim through the “Digging Deeper” questions and exercises without answering in detail. We will receive definitive answers to these great questions of life after each of our deaths, or after any of our ascensions—yet some could know sooner through the Spirit.
In this book, Misop puts forth evidence demonstrating that God created us in God’s own image; and that because our disobedience sets us apart from God and because of God’s desire to be close to us, the Father sent forth his Son. The Father sent Yeshua to come down to Earth from Heaven, take on flesh as we have, and live a perfect life. Our heavenly Father accepted the offering of his Son’s life as an atonement sacrifice to remove our sins from us through our faith in Christ. God did this in order to buy us back from our own rebelliousness toward God if we accept this gift.
Because of Yeshua’s bodily resurrection from the dead on the third day (God conquering death) and our acceptance of God and God’s provision provided for us, displayed by our placing our faith in Yeshua, God brings about our everlasting life, our eternal salvation. Possibly, at the very least, we might consider this fairly impressive. Yet on occasion, this story of God’s love can be misunderstood. If we accept God’s grace through faith in his Son, we are acting in accordance with the will of our heavenly Father.
The author tries to note the depth of God’s Word and the congruency of God’s message of love for Israel and for all people. God prefers all of us. God demonstrates his love and consistency dramatically in the Holy Scriptures. In this Israel’s Homecoming book, you just might find that the author reveals the prophecies that exhibit God’s plan for our salvation (found the writings of Moses and throughout the Bible) in an open-minded, modest manner—without too many arrogant snarls. Sometimes, the author does this while bordering on or even openly and boldly crossing over into The Land of Humor.
Gospel foreshadowing, the Holy Spirit, or Yeshua in the Tanakh instances referencing Yeshua’s first coming, Yeshua’s post death experience, Yeshua’s post resurrection glory, or Yeshua’s preexistence, the author brings to light in various passages from the book of Genesis and throughout the Scriptures. Gospel foreshadowing, the Holy Spirit, and Yeshua in the Tanakh instances are included in the accounts of creation, the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, Noah, the Tower of Babel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Judah, and others as well.
The author also attempts to demonstrate the LORD’S specific calling for the children of Israel, and for all of us. God has dynamically portrayed prophecies concerning Israel’s homecoming throughout the Bible. These prophecies foreshadowed, or currently foreshadow, the oncoming of an even closer relationship between God and the children of Israel via Yeshua. The book of Genesis has many such prophecies about Israel’s homecoming, depicted through Abraham’s life, Jacob wrestling with God while being renamed Israel, the relations of Joseph with his family, and elsewhere.
. . .
God’s way of working in our lives is vast and incomprehensible, yet personal and understandable. The beauty and majesty of God’s creation—the Earth, planets, and stars—is unfathomably magnificent; but God’s work in our lives—his revealing to us of who he is and his valiant attempts at inspiring us of our own free will to respond in kind and say, “I love you too”—this is truly God’s masterpiece.
Isaiah 44:21–28
21 Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me.
22 I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.
23 Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.
24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;
26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:
27 That saith to the deep, Be dry, and I will dry up thy rivers:
28 That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid.
(Isaiah 44:24 in the King James Version, quoted above, has words added that were not directly translated from the Hebrew text. What was translated “I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself” in a literal word for word translation would read “LORD maketh forth heavens abroad earth” corresponding to the Hebrew words “Yhovah `asah natah shamayim raqa` 'erets”—possibly, this KJV translation makes it more understandable in English.)
God the Father sent God the Son to Earth to share our struggles with us and bring forth the words of the Father. God sent his Son to enable us to fall in love with God on an intimate level. God loves us that much. God desires us all to come home to him. Yet sometimes, it can be difficult for us to comprehend the depth of God’s love. It can be hard for us to understand how God could love us, mere humans, so abundantly.
It is also truly incredible to perceive God’s work in our lives, and to comprehend, even remotely, his attempts to inspire each one of us to open the door of our heart so that he can come into our lives. Even now, God tries to show himself to us and bring us close to him.
God is good. God created all this so he can know us, and love us; so we can know him, and love him; and so we can love each other and love life too.
God has visited us.
Psalm 8
1 O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Dear Beloved
It has been such a pleasure attending the synagogue where you bless us weekly as we learn, fellowship, and worship together. While there, I benefited greatly from your sharing of your knowledge of the Tanakh. (The Tanakh, which many refer to as the Old Testament, is comprised of the Law [Torah], Prophets [Nebhiim], and Writings [Kethubhim].) Your teachings have blessed me greatly. However, beyond your teachings, I thank you for the acceptance you showed me when you realized my presence among yourself and the others. The only person I knew there was my dear friend Mr. Weitzman; yet I felt very welcomed by you and those other wonderful folks who attend the synagogue—many of whom are now my friends.
I write these words to try to open up a discussion or to provoke your consideration of the matters presented in this book. I write about what God has revealed to me: of himself, the Scriptures, and other matters. These words are for you, the people at the synagogue, all Jews, all of the children of Israel, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, and anyone else. These words are for anyone interested in God, anyone who is not, and all the rest of everyone if there is someone I missed. These words are also for God. This message, while being addressed to you, is applicable to any who would receive it.
What I discuss is worthy of great celebration from all people. God has blessed us to be alive at such a time as this. Great prophecies decreed by God thousands of years ago are fulfilled, have begun their fulfillment, or God is moving these prophecies toward fruition. A tidal wave of prophecy is emerging before the children of Israel, and before all of us. Those who swim with it will burst forth upon a delightful inheritance. If any swim against it, I hope that they will soon also, possibly aided by exhaustion or some other force, wash up on the same shore of deliverance.
John 14:29
29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Taking into account your great knowledge of the Scriptures and the Hebrew language, and considering the wisdom you have gained from your life experience of only a few seventy-seven years or so, I feel I would profit greatly by discussing such topics with you.
If you are surprised because I write originally in another language than Hebrew—the language of the nation of Israel—about revelations from God concerning Israel’s homecoming, please consider this: Did not Isaiah prophesy that one day God would speak to the children of Israel in another tongue?
Isaiah 28:11
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Although I take no offense with regard to the stammering lips comment, I still try to keep the stammering to an appropriate level. Even though I try to too often neither use monolithic, monosyllabic diatribes nor cumbersome, quagmiry banter frothing, still, some stammering might occur, o…o…occasionally. Yet do not worry.
Since Moshe (Moses) listed God’s instructions for each one of us to lay up his words in our hearts and souls and speak about them often, God might be pleased to hear us talking about him and his words (whether stammering or not). Yet certainly, we already have been doing this. I was delighted to see the instructions from the Deuteronomy 11:18–19 passage on the wall at the synagogue (which you, it seemed, had hung there).
Deuteronomy 11:18–19
18 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
19 And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
My prayer is that we are able to discuss topics concerning God openly and without fear. If there happens to be differences between our individually held beliefs about God or concerning certain portions of the Scriptures, I pray we might still be able to have love for one another. I hope we might allow God, if he so desires, to lead us to a common truth, to separate truths, or to wherever he would lead us. If we already agree, will someday agree, if we agree on some matters but not on others, or if we will never agree—then so be it. By merely being honest with one another about our personal relationships with God and our comprehensions of the Tanakh, I hope that this does not adversely affect our friendship.
After investigating what I have discovered while reading the Word of God via this book, possibly, we later could meet. Then, you would already have in mind some particular verses that we could address further in person.
Although I believe God gave us many of these words to point us toward Yeshua (Jesus) of Nazareth and the children of Israel’s relationship with God via the redemption offered through him, I would love to comprehend your understanding of these Scriptures. I would greatly appreciate any input you could give me concerning your own comprehension of these and other passages.
Please do not be offended by my beliefs, for these are what I feel God has laid on my heart to share with you and with others. If my understanding of the Scriptures that I discuss in this book differs from your understanding, and this upsets you, please try looking at it as described via the following illustration of the mustard seed party:
The Mustard Seed Party
A person—labeled by some as being delusional and labeled by others as being trustworthy—says that God has a message for a certain group of people. This messenger perceives that God loves these folks so dearly that God wants to ask them all to come to a special gathering, bringing even as little as a small mustard seed with them—believing that God would do miracles with the mustard seeds of everyone who decided to come. This messenger spent a lot of time drawing up invitations to the mustard seed party, and really felt that God wanted this exciting message delivered.
After passing out some of the invitations, some of those who received them got very upset with the invitation writer—believing that they were allergic to mustard seeds of the like. The messenger hopes that what was meant to be a friendly pointing to an invitation from God recorded in the Scriptures would not be taken as an offense. This messenger feels that if any respond favorably to this invitation from God, God will even help take away any allergic reactions to mustard seeds if any were experiencing this.
The messenger does not make wild violent threats toward any who might decide not to come, and is open to discuss different reasons why some might not want to come to the mustard seed party. This messenger does not even feel that God requires that a certain percentage of those who receive the invitations should attend or God would hold the messenger responsible, but only believes that God wants his messenger to spread the good news about a party.
This messenger believes that God wants his messenger to deliver the message, and that God will accomplish his will via the prompting of the Holy Spirit or by whatever means God desires. This messenger is convinced that God has seen to the party preparations and is convicting hearts with the desire to go to the mustard seed party in accordance with God’s prophetic Word.
The messenger is under the persuasion that the invitations the messenger has drawn up, the messenger has delivered, or will deliver, in obedience to God. The messenger does not try to force anyone to come, but only tries to tell people about a party in a kind manner—hoping and praying that any or all will respond favorably.
Ezekiel 33:1–9
1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:
3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people;
4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.
5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
6 But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.
7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me.
8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
I quote Ezekiel 33:1–9 not to imply that the sword is coming, but to signify that God only asks the bringer of his message to relay the message. It is up to the receiver of the message to decide how to respond. If a messenger of God delivers a message from God in a way that is pleasing to God, God does not hold the messenger responsible if no one reacts affirmatively to the message.
If the mustard seed party invitations brought forth are within the realm of kindness and not covered in the clotted soot of arrogance and disdain, should people despise this messenger? Even if some people think this messenger is delusional and making the whole thing up, would it not still be a good idea to search the Scriptures diligently to see if what is relayed is in accordance with the Word of God? If someone proclaims this messenger is a rude, rambunctious, reckless, rubbernecked rebel rouser, would it not still be advantageous to ask God if the message brought forth is in truth from the LORD on high?
To find out whether a messenger is actually bringing forth a message from God or not, one could research the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. Because of your knowledge of the Tanakh, I am thankful that researching the Scriptures could be so easy for you.
Deuteronomy 18:15–22
15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;
16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.
17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken.
18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.
20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?
22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Responding to this invitation reasonably and researching the information presented instead of walking away abruptly and getting upset might be an indication of the firmness of one’s own beliefs, of one’s willingness to seek the truth of God, and of the kindness that resides inside of one’s heart. Although it has been said, “If you cannot explain something, just ignore it,” still, we could take another approach. Anyone seeking after the heart of God might try researching such an invitation, whether or not one is familiar with it, has rejected similar invitations for an entire lifetime, or is burdened by the thought of even responding to any mustard seed party invitation—like mannered or not.
Trying to justify neither reading the invitation nor searching the Scriptures to see if it is in accordance with the Word of God by claiming that this messenger should have known that you consider yourself allergic to mustard seeds might indicate you are not interested in this invitation even if it were authentically from God.
Many times, people have prodded me with messages that I was quite sure were not from the mouth of God. I often realized that I had no need to be frightened, angry, disgusted, or annoyed, but rather that I could discuss these matters openly, and share my beliefs as they would share their beliefs. Although, I must admit, it sometimes can be very challenging to deal with someone who, in my opinion, is judging me in error. Yet when faced with derogatory opinions from others, focusing on God’s opinion of me can help quell my loss of self-worth, unnecessary anger, or wrathful vengeance.
I have investigated many varied spiritual belief writings; and because of the Holy Spirit of God that resides in me, and the knowledge I have had revealed to me through the Bible, often, I am not frightened by doing so. Whether someone thinks the idea that God has filled me with the Holy Spirit is extra special wollygaggy (nonsense) or not, I still experience the guidance and peace that the Holy Spirit brings to me.
If I believe I have the highest quality product, why should I be frightened by comparison shopping? If I believe I have found the highest quality item, and I want to share this item with others, why should I be frightened if others look at other tables? If I am convinced that I have found the highest quality God, why should I be frightened if people investigate other theories about who God is? Why should I be frightened if others investigate whether God exists at all? For after honest investigation, will we not find the same conclusion if God exists and is so wonderful? If we are all diligently searching for the truth about God, and God is truth, will we not all find him?
We can love God without having to scare people away from investigating various beliefs about God, or even from investigating what some consider to be false gods, for God’s truth shines brightly even among thousands of false gods or lies about the true God. Many times, people only accept lies about God because they are afraid of what might happen to them if they investigate the truth (or because they are not all that interested in finding the truth). Fear from investigating truth often leads to blind acceptance of lies.
The choice anyone makes to follow God is a personal decision. If a person or a people succeeded in forcing others to make the same decision that they have about God, then we might consider this less of a personal decision. If all people of all beliefs allow and accept the investigation of the truth about God, the chances of us all finding the same truth might increase.
I try to be open to discuss beliefs with those who might have a different point of view. Engaging in conversation about beliefs with those who might have different beliefs can be a spectacular thing. If my beliefs are of God, then I might share God’s message; and if I might hear a word of truth from another, even if I have not obtained this knowledge yet, if God so desires, I hope I would listen and be open to hearing. After hearing, I could research the Scriptures or reference God’s Word that I have written on my heart. I could also seek to understand if what I heard made any sense. Through the witness of the Holy Spirit, I could try to comprehend whether the message I received was or was not from God.
1 John 4:1
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Personally, I hope to live my life having God as my guide and protector—not my covered ears and fast feet.
My prayer is that our hearts and souls rub against the loving Spirit of God Almighty, Adonai, Abba, our Father, and I pray his grace overwhelms us. To all who have ears to hear and a soul not embalmed, to all who want to enjoy God’s presence and love: Come, and experience the grace of God.
As you carry on, please ask yourself this question, “Why would I not want to ask God to show me if accepting Yeshua as my Messiah and Lord is in accordance with the Word of God and the will of God for my own life?” As Yeshua once said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
Matthew 17:14–21
14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.
Luke 15:4–10
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Juggling Falafel Balls While Whistling a Joyous Tune
Let us consider a hypothetical person who believed that God wanted us all to juggle falafel balls while whistling a joyous tune. Imagine this person believed that if people did this, God would save them from death and allow them to live forever.
If this person really believed this, and loved you, then he or she might try to convey this to you in the hope of seeing your eternal salvation and following of God’s plan. If someone you knew truly believed that finding life and a closer relationship with God were obtainable in a particular manner, this person might lay bare his or her love for you by telling you about this. One such person might passionately demonstrate love for you by in some way attempting to publish to you the good news found.
Isaiah 52:7
7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
Therefore, let us not hate a messenger for trying to tell us a message that the messenger believes is from God. Rather, let us confer with the Word of God. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we could try to show this person, out of love, what God’s plan of salvation truly is if we have found it.
By the way, I do not believe God’s plan of salvation requires juggling falafel balls while whistling a joyous tune. Let me share, out of love for you and God, what I believe it to be.
The Savior of the world is born once every all eternity. Humbly, I say, this is my belief. Please allow me to share some ideas and Scriptures with you regarding this and other matters.
So Then, Let Us Continue
So then, let us continue. Let us scroll through the Scriptures and observe prophetic passages concerning Israel’s homecoming. After Yeshua’s (Jesus’) bodily resurrection, two of his followers and he discussed the Word of God. They discussed where references to Yeshua were in the Tanakh (Old Testament) during their walk to Emmaus. In marvelous fashion, they discussed Israel’s homecoming, or Israel’s redemption. In like manner, let us now go on a scriptural journey.
Luke 24:13–27
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.
14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.
15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Threescore furlongs is equivalent to approximately 7.5 miles. Although the Scriptures do not relay exactly how many of these 7.5 miles these two walked and talked with Yeshua, they certainly could have had quite an in-depth conversation.
John 1:16–18
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
John 5:36–47
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?
1 Peter 1:8–12
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
10 Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
I have listed a rough overview of what I am hoping to discuss with you or have you consider, trying to pique your interest. If one dared to investigate the Word of God in detail concerning Yeshua in the Tanakh, one might find that the scriptural evidence indicating that Yeshua is the Messiah is quite overwhelming. If one ventured to inquisitively look at the Word of God concerning prophetic passages about the coming even closer together of God and the children of Israel via the Messiah, one might be quite satisfied. I suppose one of the most popular ways of not discovering such things is by not looking into them.
Jeremiah 29:11–13
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Following—starting with “Chapter 1) God created”—are a succession of verses from Bereshiyt (Genesis) with comments on how I have come to understand these along with supporting Scriptures from throughout the Bible. (For those who do not know, Bereshiyt is the first book of the Torah; the Torah is the first of three sections of the Tanakh; and the Tanakh is the first of two segments, or testaments, of the Bible.) Keep in mind that I write this in love as one who finds this revelation of God’s affection for us and for all people through the gift of his Son to be rather amazing.
I try to give an exegesis of the Scriptures while being guided by the Holy Spirit, I pray. I also try to discuss the Scriptures in light of things I have learned from yourself and others.
If you understand any of these Messianic prophecies or other Yeshua in the Tanakh instances that I cite to not actually be referencing Yeshua, I hope that God’s will in this matter, if not portrayed by the sheer volume of referenced Scripture verses portraying Yeshua as the Messiah or the Son of God, be portrayed by any amount of them. I hope God reveals his will to us in this matter by any means he desires.
With the frequency with which I perceive Yeshua in the Tanakh and mention it in this book, one could possibly mistakenly perceive me to be trying to beat in a point relentlessly, repeatedly, and ravenously. Yet I hope you will have another understanding. On the other hand, some might even find more Yeshua in the Tanakh instances in Bereshiyt than I have listed.
God might really desire us to get this, though, that Yeshua is the Messiah and Lord, as he drives this home via marvelously varied repetition in the Scriptures. Through careful observation of the Word of God, one can grasp this key message. Once one grasps this, the plethora of knowledge obtained by an individual, biblical or life experientially, God adds to, connects with, and multiplies by this key message of the Gospel. We benefit by being knowledgeable of the LORD’S will regarding our acceptance of the LORD’S Son.
I enjoy your teachings from the Bible a great deal. On occasion, certain church groups—but certainly not all—repeatedly put forth from the pulpit mainly simple messages without delving deeper into the Scriptures or referencing the original Hebrew in the Tanakh.
I thank God for the simplicity of the Gospel available to all of us.
1 Corinthians 1:21
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
I am glad God made it so to be saved. I am glad God made salvation available to us in the manner he has. Yet sometimes, teachers might pass over deeper studies, possibly in fear of people not wanting to grasp more than only basic messages. This can occur even though all levels of God’s revelations available to us are wonderful. We could analogize this as feeding a congregation only milk without trying to introduce their taste buds to some more substantial food.
1 Corinthians 3:1–2
1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
(Although this passage is quite metaphorical, people might like to know that the word translated “meat” in 1 Corinthians 3:2 might not have been strictly used to reference the flesh of animals but any food; for it was translated from the Greek word broma, which is defined, “that which is eaten, food.”)
However, you have offered us of the congregation very nutritious and filling words on which to chew. I might have gained a better education by sitting and listening to your teachings (while I became as a knowledge sponge trying to absorb what you freely shared of your learning) than I might have been able to via the teachings offered through many of an expensive college’s educational curriculum in Tanakh studies. Thank you.
Salvation through faith in Yeshua is the crux of life. The message of the Gospel expressed in both the Tanakh and the B’rit Hadasha is all-important. I will try to reference this point in Scripture verses that follow. Once this revelation occurs, the Tanakh becomes even more comprehendible via the light of God. Knowledge that one possesses already is able to soar above the clouds as one grasps the simple and deep things of God through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and faith.
Romans 16:25–27
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Sometimes, the real or so-called Church can often imitate the Pharisees in the time of Jesus rather than Jesus. Being overly judgmental can often hinder more than help the sharing of good news. As Jesus recommended that we do not think so highly of ourselves that others feel inclined to openly demote or humiliate us, we indeed might often be better off speaking the truth in love rather than from a mindset of thinking, “We are the only authority on what is truth,” in a demeanor of condescending arrogance. This might not do as much good as it could.
Luke 14:7–11
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them.
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Sometimes, it is all in the manner of delivery. As I might speak the truth in a spirit of being judgmental and find that others are not inclined to listen to me, so could I speak the truth in a spirit of not being judgmental, and of love, and discover that others are possibly more inclined to hear what I’m saying.
If someone knows a spiritual truth that God has set forth, then that is great; but if someone relays a spiritual truth in an unnecessarily off-putting connotation, this can often not be as great as it could be. Relaying a spiritual truth in a spirit of hatred is only accomplished by ignoring another spiritual truth.
I know how much I cannot stand it when people are like, “Sit at my feet as I expound the truth of God to you so I can save you from your hideous error of ways.” I might not receive this as well as someone saying, “I think I know what you mean. I remember thinking about this once…and then when I came across this particular verse, afterwards, I understood that if God said that, then maybe I should look at similar circumstances in my own life under this light of the grace of God, and so forth and so on.”
Understanding that we can be firm in our faiths without being condescendingly judgmental can be advantageous toward the sharing of good news. We can be firm in our faiths without being negative Nazarenes. We can be steadfast in our convictions without being mean jackass riders.
Balaam did not understand that the angel of the LORD was directing him away from the path he was on until his donkey humbly spoke to him and the LORD opened his eyes. (Whether someone believes this story about the LORD enabling a donkey to speak is literal or allegorical, the point is still applicable. Yet if God really did set the moon to circle the Earth without a string, the Earth to drift without attachment around the Sun the precise distance needed for life to thrive, and our blood to spread out so meticulously through our bodies to keep us alive, enabling a donkey to speak might not have been too difficult for him.) In like manner, we, since God made us in his image, can often have trouble receiving a word from God unless it comes to us from a humble source backed up by the power of God. We often receive this better than a message backed up merely by the messenger’s arrogant bravado.
Why publishing salvation in a spirit of anger or while being judgmental can be so common we could wonder why. Yet surely, needlessly adding negative things to the Gospel need not always be done. God and life are quite positive.
Numbers 22:22–34
22 And God’s anger was kindled because he went: and the angel of the LORD stood in the way for an adversary against him. Now he was riding upon his ass, and his two servants were with him.
23 And the ass saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field: and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way.
24 But the angel of the LORD stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side.
25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.
26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.
27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.
28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? and he said, Nay.
31 Then the LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.
32 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:
33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive.
34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
CREATION
1) God created
Creation
Yeshua’s Preexistence
Genesis 1:1
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis (Bereshiyt) 1:1 is where the first reference in the Scriptures to the Father and Son is located. The word God from the phrase “In the beginning God created” seems to indicate God the Father along with God the Son (and possibly the Holy Spirit as well), as this word is translated from the Hebrew word 'Elohiym, which is the plural form of the singular Hebrew word for God, 'Elowahh. The first chapter of the Gospel of John and the first chapter of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Colossians support this point.
John 1:1–5
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(In John 1:1, the phrase “the Word” is referencing Yeshua [Jesus].)
Colossians 1:16–17
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
(In Colossians 1:16–17, both of the pronouns used—“him” and “he”— are referencing Yeshua.)
Seeing as God puts forth the word 'Elohiym in the first verse of the first chapter of the first book listed in the Bible, God’s revelation of the plurality of the supreme singular Godhead did not take too long. God revealed even more with other portions of Scripture, showing more about the makeup of this supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead—consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God, being one, is yet plural.
(See “Five Hebrew Words for God with Usage in Genesis and Bible” for each words quantity in Genesis, translations with quantity in Bible, and definitions.)
Digging Deeper
1) Why was the Hebrew word 'Elohiym used in Genesis 1:1 instead of 'Adonai, 'El, 'Elowahh, Yhovah, or some other Hebrew word to reference God?
Even Yeshua, about whom the Father, with a voice from a bright cloud, announced, “This is my beloved Son,” stated his agreement with the concept of God being one.
Matthew 17:5
5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
Mark 12:28–31
28 And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all?
29 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
We might deem that Mark 12:29–30 marks where Mark recorded for us Jesus quoting his Father. What Jesus quoted was in the writings of Moses in the book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 6, verses 4 and 5. I will list this passage next; and then, let us look with some detail at these Hebrew words. By doing so, we might be able to see whether these Hebrew words are referencing a supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead harmoniously acting and existing as one God…or a strictly singular of being Godhead.
Deuteronomy 6:4–5
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Deuteronomy 6:4 in transliterated Hebrew reads, “Shama' Yisra'el Yhovah 'Elohanu Yhovah 'echad.” While referencing the original Hebrew, in order to understand further the implicit meaning of these words, we could apply the following paraphrase, “Hear intelligently, he who will prevail and have power as God: The Eternal God our supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead harmoniously acts and exists as one Eternal God.” Alternatively, we could reword this passage, “Discern, O Israel: The self-Existent God (the Father) our God (including Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are one self-Existent God.”
Yet if the Hebrew word 'echad was actually used to indicate that God is the only God, we might translate this passage, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is the LORD alone.” Along the same lines, we could paraphrase this, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is the only one.”
(See “Definitions of Hebrew Words from Deuteronomy 6:4” to investigate these six Hebrew words further.)
The final word used in Deuteronomy 6:4, 'echad (translated “one”), God has used throughout the Scriptures to indicate not the exclusivity of a strictly singular of being entity, but the unity of individual entities. Let me list some other examples of the use of the word 'echad (translated “one”) in the Scriptures:
In Genesis 2:24 are the words, “they shall be one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24
24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.
We know from experience that when a couple gets married, although their flesh comes together in one sense, they do not always merge into a strictly singular of being entity. Marriage partners, although they might kiss, often do not undergo their mouths melding together so that they then have not two mouths but one fused together mouth; nor does this usually happen with the rest of their body parts.
In Genesis 2:24, Moses used the word 'echad to signify the unification, the joining, even the oneness that two can experience. They can be as one when married. The unity that exists between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is often on a much deeper level than that which exists in many of the marriages of humans; however, this gives us an awesome ideal toward which to strive.
Yet when Adam and Eve procreated, we might consider their child one flesh that came forth from both of them.
There are instances, in the Scriptures, where God has indeed used the Hebrew word 'echad to indicate a counting of one, as in a numeric quantity.
Exodus 11:1
1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.
For another example of the Hebrew word 'echad having been used to indicate unity and not a number, we could look at a passage from a book that chronicled much of Israel’s history—1 Chronicles 12:38.
1 Chronicles 12:38
38 All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
If all of the children of Israel in David’s time actually had one heart, this might have severely limited their mobility, as they would have all needed to remain somehow connected to a giant heart for them to survive. Obviously, in these Hebrew words, Yisra'el 'echad lebab (with a literal word for word translation of “Israel one heart” that was translated “Israel were of one heart”), the author was clearly noting the unity of the hearts of the people of Israel and not a single giant heart. This is so, even though many of these people of Israel might have had very big hearts.
We might not look only to Deuteronomy 6:4 to understand whether God has a Son, but throughout the Scriptures as well.
God is one, in the singular yet plural sense of the word, and the Father and Son exist in perfect unity. They do not exist as angrily fighting, disunified competitive peers.
1 Corinthians 14:33
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Yeshua spoke of his oneness with his Father.
John 10:30
30 I and my Father are one.
Digging Deeper
2) Cite phrases that use the word one ('echad) to demonstrate unity and not a counting of beings, entities, or things.
Yeshua did not come to steal glory away from his Father. Yeshua lived his life and spoke his words in submission to his Father’s will, not in opposition to it. Yeshua stated while residing on Earth that his Father was greater than he was; and he showed the world that he loved his Father by obeying his Father.
John 14:28
28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
John 14:31
31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
Yeshua prayed (or spoke) to his Father and bowed to his Father’s wishes.
Matthew 26:39–42
39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?
41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
I have encountered a writing in which the author suggested that Yeshua’s prayer to his Father (“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me”) at a place called Gethsemane somehow indicated that Yeshua was not the Son of God or truly God in nature; however, I disagree with such an observation. To me, Yeshua’s prayer at Gethsemane shows his obedience to his Father’s plan of salvation even though it involved his own suffering. This also shows us, in agonizing detail, the reality of the struggles encountered by the only begotten Son of God.
Yeshua took on flesh as we have and offered his life as a sin offering. Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we can now have life eternal through God’s plan of salvation offered through faith in Yeshua.
Digging Deeper
3) If Yeshua were part of the Triune Godhead, why would he have concerned himself with being obedient of the commands of his Father who was also part of this Triune Godhead?
4) Referencing Matthew 26:39–42, was Yeshua’s prayer to his Father supportive of, inconsequential concerning, or nullifying of the claim that Yeshua is the only begotten Son of God?
The Son of God, Yeshua, was alive before the creation of the world and was involved in this creation. When the appropriate time had come, Yeshua took on flesh as we have through the Father and the Holy Spirit’s impregnation of Mary while she was still a virgin. The angel Gabriel told Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” Yeshua lived a perfect life and provided a perfect sacrifice for the remission of our sins according to his Father’s plan for our salvation. Approximately 700 years before the Son of God’s arrival in Bethlehem, the LORD, through Isaiah, prophesied Yeshua’s virgin birth.
Isaiah 7:10–16
10 Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,
11 Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.
12 But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD.
13 And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
15 Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
There has been much debate about whether the Hebrew word `almah, translated “virgin” in Isaiah 7:14, was actually referencing a young woman of marriageable age, a maid, who was a virgin, or only referencing a young woman of marriageable age who was not necessarily a virgin. Since it has been found in the Scriptures that nowhere can it be proven that this word has been used to reference a young woman who was not a virgin, we could conclude that God was referencing a virgin and not only a young woman.
Look at the context: Isaiah said to Ahaz, “Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” Ahaz did not ask for a sign, but the Lord gave him one nonetheless: Isaiah told Ahaz, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Anyone on Earth could proclaim that at such and such a time a young woman will have a child. This is easy to predict, for it happens quite often. However, this was God giving this sign to Ahaz, and to us, and God can do miracles. God could have even seen to it that a virgin had a child.
Luke 1:26–38
26 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.
32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
Gabriel told Mary, “call his name JESUS.” The name Yeshua (Jesus) means, “Salvation, God saves, or YHVH is my salvation.” Yeshua brought forth and is still bringing salvation to all who accept God’s gift of life through him.
Yet Gabriel also said to Mary about the child that was to come through her, “that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” The name Immanuel means “God with us”; therefore, the name Immanuel is a reference to Jesus because the Son of God, being part of the Godhead himself, after being born among us brought about the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 7:14. The message from the angel Gabriel to Mary, as recorded in Luke 1:26–38, was consistent with the prophecy recorded in Isaiah 7:14.
The child born of Mary while she was still a virgin was indeed with us. Yeshua’s arrival on Earth demonstrated dramatically that God was with us. Indeed, God is still with us through the blessing of the Holy Spirit.
Digging Deeper
5) Isaiah 7:14 reads, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Give reason why you believe God did or did not fulfill this prophecy in the birth of Yeshua through Mary in Bethlehem.
Yeshua’s birth to Mary shows us that he is indeed God’s Son, if Gabriel is to be trusted here, and if we are to believe God’s words in the Tanakh.
Isaiah 9:6–8
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.
John 1:14
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Colossians 2:9
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Digging Deeper
6) Isaiah 9:6–7 reads, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Why or why not do you believe this prophecy foreshadowed the birth of Yeshua to Mary in Bethlehem?
The authors of the writings in the Tanakh studied in Judaism do not try to dissuade the belief that God has a Son. Let us perceive the congruity of the Father and the Son and the unity that exists between them as the truth of God.
Verily, verily, factually and actually, I say unto you, the Father and Son exist in perfect oneness. The Son has bowed to his Father’s will and has given honor to his Dad. As recorded in John 14:28, Yeshua said, “my Father is greater than I.” In addition, the Son has glorified his Father, as the Father has glorified his Son. In accordance with God’s revealed will and desire portrayed in the Scriptures, unity exists, and has always existed, between the Father and Son.
John 13:31–32
31 Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32 If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
John 14:13
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
John 17:1–8
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
7 Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.
8 For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
Digging Deeper
7) How did the Son glorify his Father?
8) How did the Father glorify his Son?
This is God’s message to all of us and not just my message to you. I say it with love and with excitement. God will judge us all with infinite mercy; praise the LORD Most High. God portrayed his love in this message of the Gospel of Yeshua and the salvation God offers through him.
Yet many might be honestly confused about whether or not Yeshua is God’s Son. Some might reject God’s Son, believing that this is in accordance with God the Father’s will for their lives. Yet others might reject the Son in order to try to justify their concealed true rejection of God the Father.
You cannot have one without the other (the Father and Son). If people try to justify their rejection of the Son of God by claiming that they are doing so because of the strength of their obedience to the Father, in fact, they might be hiding their unwillingness to follow God via the sometimes-popular notion of rejecting the Son for the Father’s sake. Therefore, prayer, love, and the Word of God we could offer them instead of hatred and vindictiveness.
If you, or any other person, do not share my beliefs, you do not face my hatred but my love. Although, I must admit, I cannot demonstrate God’s love as wonderfully as God has. Yet I can still try to emulate God’s love for me toward others—if I had any love to give.
Even if I came across someone guided by teachings not aligned with what I consider the teachings of God found in the Judeo-Christian Bible, the teachings of Christ advise me to show love toward such a person. Although, sometimes, it is true that those who call themselves Christians, myself included, do not always seem to act with this love.
I pray for the Lord to sort us all out in his perfect kindness, mercy, and wisdom. I am just trying to portray God’s revealed clear message of salvation. I pray we all see that the true message of God is of love and not of hate, even if I am killed for saying this.
My hope is that all those blinded with hatred; caught in a web of ungodly, fear-based teachings; or deceived with false doctrines soon have their eyes opened to God’s fountains of peace and chasms of love. I pray that more and more of those created in God’s image experience God’s love. God’s mercy is for all of us.
I hope I do not work to try to restrain God’s love from others but to share it. It would be hard to be selfish with God’s love even if I wanted to be. God just seems to love sending his love our way. Since God is omnipotent and omnipresent, loving each of us individually is God’s calling card.
I know and love many who consider themselves Christians, Messianic Jews, non-Messianic Jews, Muslims, Hindus, New Agers, Agnostics, Atheists, Satanists, worldly, and what have you. Sometimes, others are among those who have other beliefs. I am pleased that often we have been able to discuss God openly and remain friends whether we agree on certain principles or not. Unfortunately, this has not always been the case.
The Word of God and the Spirit of truth can allow us to understand the difference between the will of God and the will of humans if there were any discrepancies between the two. If people did not know what the true Word of God is, the Spirit of God could guide them to it if their hearts were open to truth. If God is dead, surely his Spirit cannot guide us; but if God is alive, as I am sure of, God can direct us. Opening our hearts to God is the key, not destroying those who disagree with us.
I direct these points more so to others than to you, because I have personally experienced your grace and kindness.
Matthew 5:43–48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Digging Deeper
9) Do you have any love to give?
10) In regards to finding the truth about God, why is the following statement true or false: “Opening our hearts to God is the key, not destroying those who disagree with us”?
11) What is the best way to share God’s love with those who have yet to find it?
God wants to know us intimately through such a simple and wonderful act as placing our faith in God’s Son, Yeshua.
Isaiah 28:16
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Isaiah 49:23
23 And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
Jeremiah 17:7–8
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
Jeremiah 17:14
14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Romans 10:9–13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
1 Peter 2:6
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
A simple sincere prayer could mark the beginning of all eternity for you. A prayer like the following could trigger the establishment of your perpetual covenanted close relationship with God and your everlasting life:
“I confess that Yeshua is Lord. I believe in my heart that God raised him from the dead. I accept Yeshua as my Lord and Savior, and I place my faith in him. Thank you, heavenly Father, for sending Yeshua to pay for my sins. Through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, by the shed blood of the Lamb of God, which Christ shed for me, please forgive me of my sins. I believe that Yeshua is the only begotten Son of God, and that you sent him to Earth to provide me with my salvation. I accept your gift of eternal life, and a relationship with you, through Yeshua. Oh my God, I acknowledge, praise, and magnify you for doing all that you have done. God, I do love you too. I love you because of who you are. Your love, beauty, and majesty are eternal and exquisite. Let friendship, affection, worship, glory, and honor from hearts full of love be yours forever and ever. Amen.”
Digging Deeper
12) Does God indicate in the Tanakh and B’rit Hadasha that Yeshua is the Messiah and one with his Father?
13) What is God’s plan of salvation?
14) Are you a child of God through your faith in Yeshua?
15) If you are saved, when, where, with whom, how, and why did this happen?
2) the Spirit of God moved
Creation
Holy Spirit
Genesis 1:2
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
In Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 2, is the term “Spirit of God”—translated from the Hebrew words Ruakh 'Elohiym. Understanding the Spirit of God can be a simple matter; yet sometimes, this can be a complex issue. When you place your faith in Yeshua, your heart’s door opens for God, and for God to send the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of you.
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
God writes his law on our hearts via the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 31:33
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
When you receive the Holy Spirit, you have become a temple of the living God.
2 Corinthians 6:16
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Whether you understand the Holy Spirit or not, after placing your faith in God’s Son, the Holy Spirit can then come to you as a seal of your eternal salvation. Moreover, God’s Holy Spirit can be your comforter and companion.
Although neither is the word Trinity nor the phrase Triune God found in the King James Version translation of the Bible, references to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are present in God’s Word.
In the Scriptures, references to the Holy Spirit often come in a variety of ways. The King James Version translation portrays Hebrew and Greek references to the Holy Spirit as Spirit of God, Spirit, Holy Spirit, Holy Ghost, Comforter, Spirit of truth, and so on. The terms “Holy Ghost” and “Holy Spirit” in the B’rit Hadasha of the King James Version are both referencing the same Greek words Hagios Pneuma. We also find the terms “Spirit of Christ” and “Spirit of his Son” in this translation of the Bible.
Digging Deeper
1) Note references to the Holy Spirit (or Spirit of God, the Spirit…etcetera) in the Tanakh and the B’rit Hadasha, and shine light on the significance of any reference.
Is the Holy Spirit a force, power, or characteristic of God the Father, God the Son, or both of them; or is the Holy Spirit an individual being who harmoniously acts and exists as one of the three members of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead? Could we ask all three—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—a question and get in response a possibly similar yet distinct answer from each of the three? Although understanding the Holy Spirit entirely might not be essential to salvation, understanding the Holy Spirit is still important. Thus, let us look into this.
In the Scriptures, Matthew and Mark both refer to the Holy Spirit as an individual via their accounts of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, Jesus receiving the Holy Spirit while standing on Earth, and the Father speaking from Heaven. All three seem to be distinct parts of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead described individually.
Matthew 3:16–17
16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Luke 3:21–22
21 Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
Jesus counseled his disciples that the Father will give them “another Comforter” that will be with them forever. Since the Father would be sending and the Son was announcing “another Comforter” who would come later, it seems that the Holy Spirit is another individual part of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead harmoniously acting and existing as one God.
John 14:16–17
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Digging Deeper
2) Are those who are part of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead (including the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) each an individual being or person?
By the Father sending the Comforter in Yeshua’s name, the Father and the Son, with the Holy Spirit, make their abode with us.
John 14:23
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 14:26
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 15:26–27
26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27 And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.
Jesus also indicated that it was good for his disciples that he go away so he could send to them the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth.
John 16:7
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Jesus told them that the Spirit of truth would guide them into all truth, and that, “for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” As Jesus spoke many words that his Father gave him, so the Holy Spirit speaks what the Holy Spirit hears. Jesus also said of the Holy Spirit, “He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” Now that is cohesion! That is unity! The supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead harmoniously acts and exists as one God. God is one ('echad).
John 16:13–15
13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.
Digging Deeper
3) What is it that the Spirit of truth does that Jesus’ disciples can also do?
4) Does unity exist between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
5) Are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit each part of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead that harmoniously acts and exists as one God?
What is the sex of the Holy Spirit? Referencing John 14:16–17, the Holy Spirit is called “Comforter” (translated from the Greek word Parakletos—noun masculine), the “Spirit” (from the Greek word Pneuma—noun neuter) of “truth” (from the Greek word aletheia—noun feminine). The Greek word autos (a pronoun, which can be defined: 1. himself, herself, themselves, itself 2. he, she, it 3. the same) is translated in John 14:17 as “him”; and the Greek word ekienos (a pronoun, which can be defined: he, she, it, etc.) is translated as “he” in John 14:26. Thus, the Holy Spirit has been referred to with masculine, neuter, and feminine nouns, and pronouns that can refer to any of these three. Hence, knowing the sex of the Holy Spirit via the Scriptures can be challenging. How can we understand everything about God? If God desires, the living God can reveal more to us at the appropriate time.
Since God created, and still does create, both male and female humans in the image of God, since it takes both a male and a female to produce a child, and the Holy Ghost and the Father were involved in the conception of Yeshua via Mary, does this give a motherly aspect to the Holy Ghost?
Luke 1:34–35
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee”; this seems to indicate that both the Holy Ghost and the power of the Highest, the Father, were involved in the conception of the Son of God via Mary. Jesus was probably not involved in his own conception via Mary, as he is not the Son of himself; but he is the Son of God. The Father and the Holy Ghost are both in the Godhead, as well as the Son.
Digging Deeper
6) Were the Father and the Holy Spirit both involved in the miraculous impregnation of Mary, which led to the Son of God being born of Mary?
7) What does this tell you about the relationship between the Father and the Holy Spirit?
8) What is the sex of the Holy Spirit?
The nouns and pronouns used in John 14:16–17 do seem to indicate clearly that the Holy Spirit is an individual, a part of the Triune Godhead, and not just a force, power, or characteristic of the Father, the Son, or both of them. Yet this does not contradict the appropriateness of translators of the Bible translating the LORD calling the Holy Spirit “my Spirit” even when the original text might not contain a word that directly translates to “my” because these three are very close, as one (or because the LORD was possibly speaking about his own individual Spirit).
John 4:24
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit do not work in competition, derision, or in a discombobulated manner. God works in love, harmony, and cohesion.
Jesus tells his disciples to baptize in the name of all three: The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Matthew 28:19
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Whether the Holy Spirit was also involved in creation, God knows. The focus in this book is on God’s clear plan of salvation through faith in Yeshua, God’s Son, and God’s prophecies regarding Israel’s homecoming through Yeshua. The role of the Holy Spirit in creation is a very wonderful theological concept that God can reveal to us more about, yet knowledge of this is not essential to salvation. Yet if you ponder this question, with God’s guidance through the power of the Holy Spirit, God could reveal what God wants you to know concerning this.
The eternal nature of the Holy Spirit precludes the Holy Spirit’s presence during creation. Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 2, makes mention of the Spirit of God’s movement upon the face of the waters before the creation of light. Yet discovering whether the Holy Spirit was involved in the actual creation is another matter. Personally, I believe the Holy Spirit was involved in creation. This question we might not need to answer, yet following are a few verses that could reveal more to us about the Holy Spirit’s involvement in creation:
Psalm 104:25–30
25 So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26 There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
Job 26:13
13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
Job 33:4
4 The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.
Job 34:14–15
14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
Digging Deeper
9) Was the Holy Spirit not only present but also involved in creation?
Following are a few more verses regarding the Holy Spirit:
Ecclesiastes 4:8–12
8 There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.
9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
1 Corinthians 12:4–6
4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.
6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
1 John 5:5–7
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
If God is love, how could God be alone?
1 John 4:16
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
The Scriptures provide ample examples of the work of the Holy Spirit throughout history. Still, our comprehension of some matters is not comprehensive. I am thankful that God has said, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” The Scriptures reveal that comprehension of everything might be a bit beyond us until God chooses to reveal even more to us than he has already. How is it possible that we, finite and fallible humans, could know everything about the Holy Spirit, the Son, or the Father? Though not all things are revealed to us as of yet, we can know enough.
Job 26:14
14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Isaiah 55:8–9
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
God will one day reveal even more than he has already to us.
1 Corinthians 13:9–12
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
I am thankful that God has sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came to convince us of the elegant plan of salvation that God has implemented for us. For those so convinced, the Holy Spirit becomes their Comforter.
Digging Deeper
10) How do the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit harmoniously act and exist as one God? Try to share even a vague understanding of how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist and work together as one.
11) Have you allowed the Holy Spirit to fill you?
12) If a person had not yet allowed the Holy Spirit to fill oneself, how could this person invite the Holy Spirit to fill him or herself?
13) If the Holy Spirit does fill you, how does this feel?
3) man in our image
Creation
Yeshua’s Preexistence
Genesis 1:26–27
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
God the Father was discussing the matter of creating man, or humans, with God the Son; and God’s only begotten Son, Yeshua, was involved in this creation.
(To investigate whether the Holy Spirit was also involved in this conversation and creation, please see “Chapter 2) the Spirit of God moved”—the previous chapter.)
God the Father was not consulting with angels or any other heavenly beings that did not have the creative abilities that God has. If the Father was talking with heavenly beings not part of the Godhead, he might have said something like, “How ’bout I create man in my image?” God the Father said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”; therefore, the one or ones that God was talking to and creating with must have been part of the Godhead as well.
God created Adam and Eve in the image of God—not in the image of God and angels, or in the image of God and Cherubim or Seraphim, or any other heavenly being or beings not part of the Godhead. This is confirmed in Genesis 1:27, “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”
Colossians 1:13–19
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Digging Deeper
1) With whom was God talking when he said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”?
2) If God had been discussing creating humans, in his image, with heavenly hosts who were not part of the Godhead, how might have God addressed them?
3) If God had been discussing creating humans, in his image and in the image of heavenly hosts who were not part of the Godhead, with these heavenly hosts, how might have God addressed them?
4) What do the words “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” tell you about the character of the relationship between the Father and Son?
5) If God created both Adam and Eve in the image of God, what does this tell you about God?
6) What does God’s creation of you in his image tell you about yourself?
7) What are the pros and cons, or advantages and challenges, of existing in the state that God created you—in the image of God?
8) Are you glad God created you in his image?
GARDEN OF EDEN
4) ye shall be as gods
Garden of Eden
Gospel Foreshadowing
Genesis 3:1–6
1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
In this passage of Scripture, we see why God chose to go through the ordeal of sending his Son, Yeshua, to Earth for our salvation. The bait provided by the serpent with the words, “and ye shall be as gods,” is similar to the allure that could keep many of us from accepting God’s plan of salvation. These words might have helped provoke Eve, and Adam, in the Garden of Eden to disobey and fall away from God. The desire of some to be as gods themselves, thereby placing themselves beyond the instructions of the true God, and therefore possibly outside of the grace of this loving and kind God, might entice some to not accept the salvation God wants to give them.
Digging Deeper
1) Consider yourself one of the first humans in the Garden of Eden, and you did not know the serpent, Eve, and Adam story recorded in Genesis 3:1–6. If God said to you, as recorded in Genesis 2:17, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” In addition to that, as recorded within Genesis 3:4–5, if the serpent told you, “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”
a. How would you have responded to this?
b. What would have been the best way to respond?
c. How would you have responded if your mate handed you the fruit that you were not supposed to eat?
d. What would have been the best way to respond to this situation?
One could say, “Humans are made in the image of God, why would they not want to be as gods themselves, being made so outstandingly and so wonderfully?” We might also ask ourselves, “Why would I want to submit to God’s will when I could be as a god myself and submit to my own will?” These intrinsic questions speak to the issues raised when relations between God and humans occur. However, God has dealt with these issues in a very dramatic yet loving way.
Digging Deeper
2) Give examples in the Bible, throughout history, or even in your own life of instances when people chose to be gods of their own lives, refusing to submit to and follow the Lord who loves them.
God very well could have created us as praise robots, so that beyond our own free will we would show God what might look like love. Yet how could what we have for God be true love if we ourselves did not choose to love God?
Hence the problem: How could those made in the image of God submit to the God who made them? How could those made so highly, of their own free will, choose to love and to try to obey this higher Supreme Being? Moreover, if any did not obey perfectly, how could those made so eminently, out of love, choose to seek God’s forgiveness?
Recognition of the facts might help toward this. Recognizing that we are not the Supreme Being, even though God created us in his image, is a very important realization to have. Coming to the conclusion that we are incapable of prolonging our lives for all eternity nor able to take another breath here on Earth apart from the grace of this Supreme Being are important tidbits of information to come across. These are all very important facts to consider; yet does recognition of the facts always lead to love? Does understanding our dependency on God always lead to our love of God?
If God really wanted us to love him, I suppose he would have to make himself known to us. After experiencing God through what he has made known to us of himself, we could respond. We could respond positively or negatively. After observing what God has revealed to us, if we believe that God is a lovable God, and that this lovable God even loves us already, we might respond with love. In order for God to get us to fall in love with him, it seems he had to reveal himself to us.
Yet what level of revelation is necessary? God could have posted a large neon sign in the wilderness before the children of Israel reading, “I am a wonderful God; love me.” Yet would this have been enough? In the Torah, there is no reference to God posting a large neon sign, yet there is a reference to thundering, lightning, noise of a trumpet, the mountain smoking, and the people pleading with Moses, “let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
Exodus 20:18–22
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
22 And the LORD said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.
Instilling fear into the onlookers beneath Mount Sinai, as in the thundering, lightning, noise of trumpet, and the mountain smoking incident was an important step in the process of God revealing himself to us. Still, this was not the final curtain or the climax of God’s revelation of himself. The eventual further revelation of God’s true nature, and his further bringing forth of his salvation plan, was still forthcoming. Yet the onlookers beneath Mount Sinai must have felt humbled by being so close to the glory of God.
How could God provoke humility in us without crumbling us into frightened, quivering, lock-jawed emaciates before him? I suppose he could have posted another neon sign reading, “Be humble.” Yet indeed, the LORD has revealed his desire for us to be humble through the prophet Mica rather plainly:
Micah 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
Yet there is another good way of really driving home this “walk humbly with thy God” thing: Give your law to the people you made so highly, to the people you made in your own image. This way, the law could give some good guidelines for living, but also you would make it clear and manifestly obvious to your people that they could not keep your law perfectly and needed forgiveness, maybe even a Savior, thus provoking humility.
Deuteronomy 11:26–32
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day:
28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
29 And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.
30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?
31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein.
32 And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.
Deuteronomy 12:28
28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the LORD thy God.
Romans 11:32
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
Since the law came to Moses and the children of Israel, we are well aware, except for those who actually believe they have never sinned, of how inadequate we are.
1 John 1:8–10
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Okay, what then should we do? Should we all grovel about and moan incessantly?
Ezekiel 33:10–11
10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?
11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
If God desired to humble us, through the giving of the law or by other means, how could he ever expect to be in a loving relationship with us if he did not also do something to give us confidence? How could we show any love toward God if we did not have enough self-assurance or boldness to, spiritually speaking, walk right up to him, put our arms around him, and say, “How are you doing, God? I love you so much.”
1 John 4:16–19
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
I suppose it was advantageous for God to do something else in order to redeem those made so highly, in the image of God, and provoke these highly made people to love God. How could God reveal himself to us on an intimate level, show us God’s humility so that we can emulate it, and allow us to be so confident of God’s forgiveness of our sins and love for us that we would dare show love back to God?
What better way is there for God to reveal himself to us than by coming down to our level? What better way for God to teach us humility than by exemplifying humility himself by descending from Heaven and dressing up in the flesh and blood that we have and living humbly, justly, and graciously before us? Moreover, what better means of God showing his love for us than by God the Son going the extra step of offering his own life as an atonement sacrifice to pay the penalty (which is death) we deserve for our sins?
John 15:13
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
This way, by accepting this gift from God with humility, and not by trusting in ourselves or in any delusions of grandeur we might have, we can live and love with God forever. We can have confidence by trusting in God’s work for us on the cross at Calvary. We do not need to be wavering waifs afraid to love God because of our own inadequacies. Yet we can be humble because it was not our work that provided our salvation for us, but God’s work.
John 6:28–29
28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Romans 3:26–28
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Ephesians 2:8–9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Although some might be a little grossed out when they first encounter it—envisioning the bloody circumstances that the Son went through—God’s salvation plan really is an incredible plan that reveals God’s love for us. Good plan, God.
Digging Deeper
3) Although God did not make us praise robots, do you ever feel robotic in your relationships with the following?
a. God
b. Any church, synagogue, mosque, or other congregation
c. Other groups
d. Other relationships you have had
4) Does each person have a free will to choose or not to choose God?
5) Do we sometimes have limited wills?
6) Can God direct our wills if we ask him to do so?
7) Why might humility be advantageous for us to have if we wanted to be in a loving relationship with God?
8) How might one inspire humility in others?
9) What has God done in order to inspire humility in us?
10) Why might confidence be advantageous for us to have if we wanted to be in a loving relationship with God?
11) How might one inspire confidence in others?
12) What has God done in order to inspire confidence in us?
13) Was God’s plan of salvation, and the means by which he further revealed himself to us, a good plan?
Although God made us in his image, we are also but grass and full of weakness. Yet God still loves us that much. Can you believe it?
Psalm 102:11–12
11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.
12 But thou, O LORD, shall endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Our heavenly Father sent his only begotten Son, Yeshua Mashiach. Yeshua spoke words that his Father gave him to speak. It seems quite likely that if you love the Son you would also love the Father. It is understandable why if you love the Father you would also love the Son.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
God the Father sending God the Son down from Heaven in order to show us God’s true nature, and to inspire us to fall intimately in love with God, we could illustrate with a story:
The King’s Love for a Servant Girl
There was a king, wealthy and powerful. This king fell in love with a particular poor servant girl that lived in his country.
The king was riding about one day in a low-key, not so kingly carriage, and he became quite enamored of a woman that he came across. This woman did not see the king admiring her or know that the king was in the area. She did not even know what the king looked like.
The king was able to get reliable information at the drop of a hat, and he found out a great deal about the character of this girl. The king found that a licentious and quite awful history followed behind her, yet that her character was strong, and her love for others was great. He found that because of the laws she had broken, the fines that accumulated against her grew to such a large amount that she did not have the means to pay them.
The king wanted to have an ideal kingdom. At the time that the king became visibly enamored of this servant girl, one might have considered his rules very strict. Although his rules were helpful instructions for living, this servant girl was unsuccessful at obeying them all perfectly. The king found that the laws he had put forth severely affected the servant girl he had fallen in love with. Unless she could find a means to have her debt that she owed the kingdom paid by herself or her spouse if she had one, she would be subject to the king’s own death penalty.
After much consideration, the king said to himself, “I know she has had a difficult time in her life, I know she has made mistakes, but I love her. If she simply tells me, ‘I love you too,’ and agrees to marry me, thereby permitting me to pay her debt for her, I will forget about her sins and be an extremely happy king with her as my companion.”
The king wanted to have relations with this girl, and for her to get to know him, personally. The king knew that he could have made a proclamation, had his infantry pick this girl up, and marry her—whether she wanted to marry the king or not. Yet this king was a very loving and humble king. He used his position of kingship to serve the people well. Although he was humble, he was also wise. He knew that his being king was a benefit to the citizens of his kingdom. He wanted to continue being a blessing to those enjoying his kingship.
The king thought to himself, “How can I get this woman I have fallen in love with to love me in return? How can I ensure she does not pretend that she loves me only because she wants power as the queen or the wealth I could provide for her? How could I present myself to her in such a way that does not encourage her to manufacture an imitation love for me, or to agree to marry me just because she is afraid of what would happen to her if she denied the king what he wanted? Moreover, how can I find all this out while not relinquishing my kingship?”
The king exclaimed, “I know what to do! I’ll dress as a servant myself, get a job at the same house where she is working, let her get to know me, and see if she falls in love with me as I am in love with her. If she does fall in love with me, we could get married; but if she does not fall in love with me, at least then we both would understand how she truly feels about me.”
“The King’s Love for a Servant Girl” story illustrates God’s love for us. One of the reasons God sent his Son to Earth was to reveal to us intimately who God is, and to inspire us to fall in love with God in sincerity.
I told a version of this story to my friend Philip from Jerusalem, Israel, while we were walking around Zion Square after he showed me places where explosions killed people made in the image of God, one of which he witnessed, and he responded in a sincere way, “How romantic.” Indeed, a romantic story it is.
The story of “The King’s Love for a Servant Girl” can aptly relate to God’s love for each one of us. Humans, being human, can sometimes barely give the time and the effort to be nice to those they walk by on the street. God, being God, can love each of us individually, and seek after us as if we were the only person alive in the entire world. God has shown us his love so that we can respond with love, personally.
Isaiah 62:4–5
4 Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.
5 For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Digging Deeper
14) If your days were like a declining shadow and you were withered like grass, what could give you hope?
15) Concerning the Father and Son, why is it likely that if you loved one you would love the other?
16) We might consider the story of “The King’s Love for a Servant Girl” an allegorical metaphor or a parable. Give another parable to help us understand what God went through in order to bring us close to him, and why God went through all that he did.
Thankfully, God has foreseen and prophesied the children of Israel’s acceptance of God’s redemption plan. This is evident throughout the Scriptures. Let all the children of God pray for the fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the children of Israel. Let us pray for all people, for God extends his plan of salvation toward all of us.
After God the Father sent God the Son down to Earth to reveal himself to us, he also sent the Holy Spirit to his adopted children to dwell inside of them, love them intimately, and direct them. Now, the free will of God’s children and the free will of God can be in synchronization.
God has planned to show his love toward us through the sending of his Son, Yeshua, before we were born, even before the foundation of the world.
Romans 8:29
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Ephesians 1:4–6
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
To those God foreknew would choose him, God also revealed himself to them, or is revealing himself, and called, or is calling, into his companionship.
Digging Deeper
17) Did God foresee whether you, of your own free will, would accept him as your God before you were born?
18) How did God’s foreknowledge affect his interactions with you in your past?
19) How does God’s foreknowledge affect his interactions with you now?
Ezekiel 18:23
23 Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?
1 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Digging Deeper
20) Does God desire to know, love, and save all humans?
5) Adam…Where art thou?
Garden of Eden
Yeshua’s First Coming & Gospel Foreshadowing
Genesis 3:7–13
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.
We could consider Adam a type of Jesus, or a prefiguring of Yeshua. We could even consider Adam an anti-type of Jesus. Sin came into the world through one man, Adam; salvation and forgiveness of sins came to all of us who accept it through one God-man, Yeshua.
1 Corinthians 15:45–47
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the Lord from heaven.
We often think of Adam as “the figure of him that was to come”: For Adam was the first created by God, as Yeshua was the first and only begotten of the Father; also, Adam was a man, as Yeshua came to Earth as a God-man. Yet the Father fathered Yeshua before the creation of Adam; and Yeshua was even involved in creating Adam (as well as Eve).
Although, it is true that Eve sinned first and then Adam sinned. Therefore, since salvation has come through one person, Yeshua, for the option of all humankind, including both males and females, to have their sins remitted, both Adam and Eve were beneficiaries of the salvation that was to come through Yeshua. Salvation is for all of us through the living Christ.
Because of sin, humankind was subject to death. Yet later, God sent his Son to take away the penalty that humankind deserves because of sin, if any put their faith in Yeshua.
Romans 5:6–21
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
15 But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Digging Deeper
1) Why do some consider Adam a type of Jesus, or a prefiguring of Yeshua?
2) Besides Adam, who else referenced in the Bible do you consider a type of Jesus?
3) How might you relate with Adam and Eve’s shortcomings in the Garden of Eden?
4) Why did God send one Savior to pay the penalty required for the remission of all humankind’s sins who accept this payment instead of sending two saviors, one male savior and one female savior, each to provide a means for which to pay for the sins of their respective sexes?
After Adam’s fall, it is interesting how his guilty conscience seemed not to allow him to walk openly in the presence of God while being naked. Instead, he hid from God. God asked Adam, “Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Then, when confronted with his wrongdoing, as many will do, Adam appeared to try to pass the blame onto Eve and God before accepting responsibility for his own actions.
Adam said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Eve then tried to pass the blame onto the serpent by saying, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.” Finally, God passed the blame and the consequences onto all three of them in different measure.
Maybe Adam and Eve were just being honest and not tattletales, but let me use this to illustrate a point. Many prefer to point out the failings and sins of others in order to attempt to justify their own sins—and suppress their feelings of guilt—rather than be honest, humble, and submissive to God. We often see people under the guise of morality flailing at other sinners, including nice people, the Church, the children of Israel, or anyone else, rather than being merciful to others and humble before God.
Sure, there might be times when being stern is best, if led by the Spirit of God to do so; but if God leads you to be merciful and you are more inclined to show hateful condemnation in order to try to divert attention away from your own sins, you might want to check this. Pointing out the sins of others in order to strive to justify our own sin can be diversionary. Highlighting the sins of others to endeavor to justify our own lack of repentance and not following of God is like setting up a mirage before ourselves so we can more calmly walk off a cliff. Should we use the sins of others to make an effort to assist in the justification of our own sin? Should we mention the wrongdoings of various people to try to help justify our own lack of repentance and not following of God?
John 3:17–21
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Digging Deeper
5) Adam and Eve were the first sewing people, as they sewed fig leaves together for aprons to cover themselves. They also tried to hide from God among the trees of the garden. Describe other things people do in order to try to hide from God or from others.
6) As Adam seemed to blame Eve for giving him the fruit, and God for giving him Eve, possibly trying to justify himself, give examples of fault finding incidents that people have used to justify their own not following of God, or of being involved with God’s followers.
God caught both Adam and Eve in their sin. The Scriptures indicate, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”—except for Yeshua, who was “without sin.” Therefore, we all need God’s grace as provided by God the Father through God the Son.
Ecclesiastes 7:20
20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Romans 3:9–23
9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Hebrews 4:14–16
14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Giving thanks to God because God has completely eradicated our sins, if we have relied on God’s removal of them, is a nice thing to do. God can remove our sins as far away as the east is from the west. God can cast away our sins as if cast into the depth of the sea. Through Christ, we can be reconciled to God, no longer alienated enemies of God in our minds by our shortcomings, but free and made whole, blamable of nothing, and guilty of naught. This is God’s grace provided for us by the Messiah.
Psalm 103:7–12
7 He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Micah 7:18–20
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
Colossians 1:20–22
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
Digging Deeper
7) If God has completely removed our sins as far as the east is from the west through our faith in Yeshua, do we sometimes live under a cloud of guilt that is self-imposed, whereby we are not realizing or enjoying the forgiveness God has given us?
8) If God has forgiven us, who are we not to forgive ourselves?
6) bruise thy head…bruise his heel
Garden of Eden
Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory & Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 3:14–15
14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Please forgive my, what could be taken for, grandiose explanations of Scripture. For example, my explanation of this passage, which some might believe to be showing us no more than that Eve’s offspring will crush or bruise the head of a serpent, and that the serpent, or the serpent’s seed, will strike or bruise her offspring’s heel. However, this is an early prophetic revelation of God’s plan of salvation for all creation. Genesis 3:15 was a prophecy of Christ’s victory over Satan and death, and of his suffering and crucifixion.
Just after Adam and Eve’s fall, God was already looking forward to atoning for the sin that separated them from God. God was also foreshadowing how God would provide all of us with the option of receiving atonement for all of our sins, and the way that we can have a close relationship with God.
God is compassionate. God’s words to the serpent portray an early glimpse at salvation. The serpent’s head, or Satan’s head, and his plan to deceive man away from God, was bruised, crushed, or struck when Jesus Christ died on the cross conquering sin.
John 16:7–12
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Hebrews 2:14–15
14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Digging Deeper
1) Genesis 3:15 reads, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” What is God saying to you in this passage of Scripture?
Christ died on the cross conquering sin. Christ rose from the dead conquering death. God provided a way for all humankind, through faith in Christ, to receive forgiveness of their sins, and have union with God and everlasting life. In the case of Adam and Eve, Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection became the means by which they could obtain restoration of their previous union with God in an even greater fashion.
Galatians 4:4–6
4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Digging Deeper
2) Why did not God wait longer after the original sin to foreshadow the salvation that was forthcoming?
God also said to the serpent, “and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Was this pointing toward the time when Satan might have been working in the life of Judas who betrayed Jesus, the high priest, and in the lives of some of the chief priests, elders, and scribes who were working to have Jesus crucified? Was Satan, or the serpent, aware that Jesus’ crucifixion was in fulfillment of what the LORD God said to him in the Garden of Eden, “and thou shalt bruise his heel”? Furthermore, did Satan know that Christ’s crucifixion was also in fulfillment of many other prophecies about the bringing forth of salvation through the crucifixion of God’s Son?
John 14:30
30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
Digging Deeper
3) Did Satan know that Yeshua’s suffering, death, and resurrection would lead to the salvation of many?
Possibly, God intended to interweave first coming prophecies of the Messiah (of which some are referencing Christ’s sufferings) with second coming prophecies (of which some are referencing Christ’s Kingship and Lordship forever) in order to fulfill them all. If it had been overtly obvious that God the Father brought his Son among us to suffer crucifixion for the salvation of our souls in fulfillment of his plan, the enemies of God might have tried to see that Yeshua’s crucifixion did not take place. Moreover, those who later repented of not accepting God’s Son would not have had a means of redemption if God’s roadmap to life via the crucifixion, in fulfillment of prophecy, had not occurred.
1 Corinthians 2:7–8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Yeshua’s crucifixion is our roadmap to life.
Digging Deeper
4) Sometimes things are not so obvious, sometimes they are. Did God purposely weave together Messianic first coming prophecies with second coming prophecies of Yeshua throughout the Tanakh in order to fulfill them all?
5) How does this affect your understanding of prophecies not yet fulfilled?
It is truly amazing how God can use even our disobedience to bring us closer to him. Through the acceptance of God’s forgiveness and grace that he longs to show us, after repenting of our own sin, we can begin sweet fellowship with our heavenly Father through his Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. During the time of Yeshua’s first coming, many were trying to have him forcibly made king.
John 6:14–15
14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
Yet Christ, in order to fulfill the purpose of his coming, kept a much lower profile than he could have. Christ often instructed people to tell no man about the miracles he performed or that he was the Christ.
Matthew 8:3–4
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
Matthew 16:20–21
20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Matthew 17:9
9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
Jesus told unclean spirits that they should not make him known after referring to him as the Son of God.
Mark 3:11–12
11 And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God.
12 And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
Luke 4:41
41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
Yet Christ accepted open praise while descending the Mount of Olives in Yeshua’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Yeshua’s triumphal entry, after the completion of much of his teachings that benefit us today, and in fulfillment of the prophecy in Daniel 9:25–26, came at the appropriate time for him to be openly accepted as God’s Anointed One.
Open praise and acceptance might have provoked jealousy in the hearts of many. Jealousy along with other motivating factors might have worked to bring forth his crucifixion. Ultimately, open praise, jealousy, and Yeshua’s crucifixion we could consider a necessary preamble to Yeshua rising to life on the third day.
Digging Deeper
6) Was it necessary for Yeshua to keep a lid on the hype he received before his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, so that the prophecies about his suffering, death, and resurrection could be fulfilled?
In obedience to his Father, Yeshua went through sufferings for our sakes. Yeshua’s crucifixion and resurrection brought us the possibility of having our sins forgiven, eternal life, and union with God. Sons and daughters of God, through faith in Christ, can now experience an even closer relationship with God than Adam and Eve experienced in the Garden of Eden.
As the Son of God went through great sacrifice and suffering for our salvation, to get to know us better, and to reveal the true nature of the Father and himself to us, at times God might ask us to go through suffering in this world.
Matthew 16:24–25
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Since through faith in Yeshua Mashiach, the living Son of God, we are made adopted sons and daughters of the Most High, we sometimes are thought of as a stench of death to those who do not want to submit to God’s plan of salvation in humility. In spite of, or maybe because of, the fact that we were made so high, even in the image of God, there are still those who seem to reject God’s salvation.
2 Corinthians 2:15–16
15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
Many Messianic Israelis and other Christians experienced suffering through the rejection they received from those who have yet to understand what a lovely plan of God salvation through faith in Yeshua is. Nevertheless, if you suffer for the sake of God, bear it hopefully. In so doing, you could provide a living example of the grace of Christ for another.
1 Peter 2:19–25
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Any sufferings we endure in this world do not even hold a dim light in comparison to the glory and joy that the children of God, through faith in Christ, will experience for all eternity, I reckon.
Romans 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Digging Deeper
7) Do Christ’s past sufferings for your sake inspire you to accept any persecutions you might face for Christ’s sake?
8) Have you ever faced persecution due to your faith in God?
9) Would you give up your relationship with God in order to try to save yourself from persecutions in your earthly future?
10) Do you believe that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”?
7) coats of skin
Garden of Eden
Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
God saw man’s sin, or Adam and Eve’s sin, and dealt with this sin, which separates us from God, in various ways throughout biblical history. As the LORD God made coats of skins to cover or clothe Adam and Eve, since the life of the flesh is in the blood, God has given us blood to make atonement for our souls.
Leviticus 17:11
11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
The yearly sin sacrifices in the Tabernacle and Temple that came later, which have since been widely stopped, were temporary solutions for the covering of sins, as the garments of skin that the LORD God made for Adam and Eve were temporary coverings.
The shed blood of Yeshua provides us with our salvation if we accept his atoning sacrifice made for us by accepting him. However, the sacrifice of God’s Son can be our “once for all” sanctification.
Hebrews 10:1–22
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
If an individual accepts God’s only begotten Son, Yeshua’s sacrificial offering on the cross acts as a complete removal or remission of one’s sins in the eyes of God. By accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as one’s own personal Lord and Savior, and thereby accepting God the Father’s plan of salvation through having faith in his Son, you can be saved. Yeshua, whose name means salvation, in accordance with God the Father’s plan of salvation and grace, became the means by which we can have eternal life. Yes, we can live forever in God’s presence.
Romans 10:9–13
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Digging Deeper
1) Concerning the LORD God making coats of skin with which he clothed Adam and his wife Eve:
a. Did this foreshadow the animal Passover sacrifices and sin sacrifices later offered in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and the Temple in Jerusalem?
b. Did this foreshadow a different kind of sacrifice, the “once for all” sacrifice that Jesus offered for the remission of our sins?
2) Why is it that Yeshua’s shed blood can provide atonement for our souls?
3) Note and comment on any other passages from the Bible that foreshadowed the “once for all” sacrifice that Jesus offered.
4) After one accepts Yeshua as one’s Savior, if one sins, why are the following statements true or false:
a. Christ does not have to come back to Earth and offer his life again to atone for this person’s sin.
b. This person does not need to accept Christ again as his or her Lord and Savior to reinstate oneself as a child of God through faith in Christ.
5) If you made the following statements, why would they be true or false?
a. Jesus’ offering of his life on the cross at Calvary passed God’s judgment over me.
b. God has not forgiven my inadequacies via the shed blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus.
8) the man is become as one of us
Garden of Eden
Yeshua’s Preexistence & Gospel Foreshadowing
Genesis 3:22–23
22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.
God was neither schizophrenic nor talking to himself here in Genesis 3:22: This was actually a conversation involving the Father and the Son. Since God has a sense of humor, I feel saying this would not be to his disliking. (To investigate whether the Holy Spirit was also involved in this conversation, please see “Chapter 2) the Spirit of God moved” for more concerning this.) Here, the Father and Son were discussing the matter at hand.
Digging Deeper
1) Referencing Genesis 3:22, “And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us,” who was the LORD God talking with?
Because disobedience, or sin, came about, God saw fit to banish humans from the Garden of Eden so that they could not eat from the tree of life and live forever. Living forever, or eternal salvation, God allows to Adam, Eve, and their children by means of God’s mercy provided to us through the risen Messiah, Yeshua Mashiach. Adam and Eve’s sin, and all of our sin, precludes that we are in need of remission of our sins by an acceptable means. Yeshua was worthy to provide an acceptable sacrifice for our sins, and he gave his life on the cross for our salvation.
Acts 4:10–12
10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Digging Deeper
2) Are Christians behaving narrow-mindedly if they believe the words recorded in Acts 4:11 about Jesus, “Neither is there salvation in any other”?
3) If Yeshua is the Son of God and his Father gave him words to share with us while here on Earth, if you reject the Son, in essence, are you also rejecting the Father?
Cheer up; the risen Lord and Messiah, Yeshua Mashiach, has conquered death.
Psalm 22:26
26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.
Isaiah 25:7–9
7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations.
8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
John 20:9–31
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my LORD, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
1 Corinthians 15:54–57
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Digging Deeper
4) God said, “…lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever”—does this help nullify the belief held by some that there is no life after death?
5) Is there life after death?
6) Give Scriptures to support your point of view.
7) If by rejecting the Son someone is rejecting the Father, by so doing, is one also rejecting God’s gift of salvation through faith in his Son?
8) How does someone receive God’s granting of eternal life, enabling someone to live forever?
9) Have you any reason for good cheer?
CAIN & ABEL
9) she conceived, and bare
Cain & Abel
Yeshua’s Preexistence
Genesis 4:1–2
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
As Cain was the first begotten child of Adam and Eve, Yeshua was the first and only begotten child of God. Much like a man and a woman might have a son or a daughter, and that son or daughter is still a man or a woman in nature, or a human being, God had a Son, and that Son is still God in nature, or part of the Godhead. Since people were created in God’s image and people have reproduced and brought forth children—their own offspring in their own likeness, being still, in nature, human—how could it be that God could not have brought forth a Son—God’s own offspring in God’s own likeness, being still, in nature, God?
If God has made humans in his image, it seems unlikely that being God would somehow prevent him from having a Godhead family. Since humans have had children, it seems improbable that God could not have had a child.
In the Qur’an, Chapter 112, Verse 003, is the statement, “He begetteth not, nor is He begotten”; yet in the Davidic Psalm 2, Verse 7, David quoted what I believe were the LORD’S previously spoken words to his Son Yeshua, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.”
Digging Deeper
1) Since humans made in the image of God have had children, is it possible that God could have had a child?
10) brought of the firstlings of his flock
Cain & Abel
Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 4:3–4
3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.
4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Was the fact that the LORD looked with favor at Abel’s giving of some of the firstlings of his flock a hint toward the future, pointing to the test of Abraham when he was asked to give his firstborn son with Sarah? Yet the LORD stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son. Was this also foreshadowing God’s acceptance of Israel’s firstborn males, which the LORD asked the children of Israel to give him to serve him? God later replaced Israel’s firstborn males with the tribe of Levi, for serving the LORD in the Tabernacle of the Congregation and later in the Sanctuary in Jerusalem. Ultimately, did not Abel’s bringing of the firstlings of his flock prelude our heavenly Father’s sending of his own firstborn Son, Yeshua, as an acceptable sacrifice for the remission of our sins?
Could it possibly have been that God accepted Abel’s sacrifice because he offered it with love in sincerity?
Romans 12:1–2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Digging Deeper
1) Regarding Abel offering some of the firstlings of his flock to the LORD, compare this to the following:
a. Abraham offering his firstborn son with Sarah, but the LORD stopped him
b. Israeli firstborn males offered to the LORD to serve him, later replaced by the tribe of Levi
c. The LORD’S offering of his firstborn Son, Yeshua, for our salvation
d. Any other firstborn offerings referenced in the Bible
2) Did God use the account of Abel offering some of the firstlings of his flock to the LORD to foreshadow any or all of the firstborn events previously listed?
3) Why would people ever offer a sacrifice to the LORD of life?
4) Why has the LORD of life ever accepted any sacrifice offered to him?
5) Since Christ offered his life as the atonement for our sins, are animal sacrifices no longer necessary?
6) In appreciation for God’s sacrifice for us, how could we now offer our own lives to God as living sacrifices?
7) If one were to offer his or her life to God as a living sacrifice, what are the possible pros and cons of doing so?
a. Pros
b. Cons
8) Did being firstborn have special significance to God?
9) Give an example in the Scriptures where God did not choose first the firstborn, and explain why this might have happened.
10) Why should our offerings to God be sincere and rooted in love?
11) Give Scriptures to support your point of view.
11) sin lieth at the door
Cain & Abel
Gospel Foreshadowing
Genesis 4:5–7
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
The LORD advised Cain about how to deal with sin and used the analogy, “and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.” How does one rule over or master sin? This has been a quandary for humankind since humankind began.
God the Father placed the penalty that we deserve for our sin upon his Son, Yeshua, while he was on the cross. Yeshua rose again after death as a means for us to unite with God. Once an individual accepts this sin sacrifice, God sends the Holy Spirit to fill one such person. Subsequently, mastery of sin is more plausible, if an individual chooses to commune with, dwell in, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Jeremiah 31:31–34
31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
If God writes his law on our hearts, it is much easier to follow. God writes his law on our hearts via the Holy Spirit. God sends the Holy Spirit once we place our faith in Yeshua.
John 8:31–36
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
We can be free from being slaves of sin if we allow the Son to set us free.
Romans 7:1–6
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.
We can be dead to the law of our sinful nature and alive to God through the resurrected Messiah. In fact, baptism is a symbol of our death to the enslaved self and our rebirth into our freed by the Son self.
Romans 6:3–5
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Yeshua’s “name is called The Word of God.” At his death, Yeshua endured for us the penalty that God, by the law, rightfully held against us; and at his resurrection, he signed the adoption papers that can make us children of God through our faith in him, the Messiah. Yeshua is our Savior from our well-deserved death. Yeshua can free us from our enslavement to sin.
Digging Deeper
1) If we were born into sin, inherited through our ancestors Adam and Eve (or at least quite prone to it, and even more prone to it since the coming of the law), how can God free us from being slaves to sin?
Romans 7:7–25
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Even when someone is filled with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is still residing in that person’s born-into-sin, corruptible, declining, fragile, prone to sickness, and possibly withering flesh. Until God gives us incorruptible bodies at the resurrection, sometimes, sin might get a hold of us.
Digging Deeper
2) Once God fills someone with the Holy Spirit, is one such person incapable of ever sinning again?
3) Is mastery of sin obtainable in this life?
4) How does one master sin?
Yet take heart. God removed condemnation from us in Mashiach Yeshua. We can say to our accusers, “Leave my sins to the one who has removed them from me as far as the east is from the west.”
Romans 8:1–16
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Digging Deeper
5) Has God removed condemnation from you in Christ Jesus?
6) Why is it that if we are led by the Spirit of God, we are sons (or daughters) of God?
7) Does your spirit bear witness with the Spirit that you are a child of God?
Romans 8:17–39
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Digging Deeper
8) “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
9) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
10) “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?”
11) Shall tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, the sword, death, life, angels, principalities, powers, things present, things to come, height, depth, or any other creature separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord?
BLESSING OF SHEM
12) dwell in the tents of Shem
Blessing of Shem
Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 9:26–27
26 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
The Scriptures list Shem in the family line of Yeshua. The Scriptures record Yeshua’s ancestral heritage as coming by way of Noah, Shem, then later through Abraham, Isaac, Israel, Judah, and later through David who was the king of Israel.
Luke 3:23
23 And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
The list continues; and later on in Verse 36, the compiler of this list lists Shem.
Luke 3:36
36 Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
(The names “Sem” and “Noe” you could alternatively translate as “Shem” and “Noah” from the same Greek words.)
As all people are descendents of Adam and Eve, due to the great flood we are also all descendents of Noah and his wife. Since Noah had three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, we could say that each one of us are in the family line of at least one of these three sons of Noah and that son’s wife.
Through the descendents of Shem (the Semites) came the Assyrians (Asshur), the Syrians (Aram), the Hebrews (Eber), and the Joktanian Arabs (Joktan), among other peoples. Through the descendants of Ham (the Hamites, the Turanians, or the Allophylians) came the Ethiopians (Cush), the Egyptians (Mizraim), certain of the Southern Arabs (Sheba and Dedan), ancient people of Babylon (Nimrod), and the Canaanites (Canaan), among other peoples. Through the descendents of Japheth (the Japhethites or the Aryans) came the Cymry or Celts (Gomer), the Medes or the Asian peoples (Madai), and the Ionians or Greeks (Javan), among other peoples.
Through God via the redemption of Christ, though, we can have victory over what might separate the races, or families, of the Earth. Now, the many varied peoples of the Earth can come together through the unity that can exist among the sons and daughters of God through faith in Yeshua.
John 1:12–13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Galatians 3:26–29
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Colossians 3:11
11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Digging Deeper
1) Since Yeshua was born to a Jewish family, having come in the line of Shem, Abraham, Judah, David, and others, is someone who was born a Jew greater in the eyes of God than someone who was not, regardless of that person’s love or lack of love for God?
2) Although God loves all people, why would God at different times work specifically with certain groups of people, or even certain individuals, via prophetic proclamations, outpourings of his Spirit, or other ways?
TOWER OF BABEL
13) let us go down
Tower of Babel
Yeshua’s Preexistence, Gospel Foreshadowing, & Holy Spirit
Genesis 11:1–9
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
5 And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded.
6 And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.
8 So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
These verses again show a conversation between God. These verses show a conversation between the Father and Son, and possibly the Holy Spirit as well.
Digging Deeper
1) When the LORD said, “let us go down,” with whom was the LORD talking?
These are also very rich verses in that God, through the Tower of Babel incident, brought about the separation of humankind. God caused the people to speak in different languages and sent them off into different lands. The wars that God has allowed to occur because of this and other factors, God has sometimes used to benefit us, to humble humans, and, through adversity, provoke us to seek the LORD—instead of in unity go against him, as at the Tower of Babel.
Digging Deeper
2) Was the LORD confounding the peoples’ language a vindictive punishment, or was this a loving disciplining, implemented to benefit people and help bring them to him while inhibiting people from as one, with one language, from going against him?
The confusion brought by the people speaking different languages at the Tower of Babel, God reversed on Pentecost in the incident of the coming of the Holy Spirit through people’s faith in Christ. At Pentecost, those filled with the Holy Spirit spoke in languages previously unknown to them, and many were amazed that they heard the wonderful works of God spoken in their native tongues while in Jerusalem.
In the book of Joel, Chapter 2, God prophesied the coming of the Holy Spirit in power. In the book of Acts, Chapter 2, the author recorded for us the dramatic fulfillment of this prophecy. Yet God continues to fulfill this prophecy in our day.
God poured out the Holy Spirit to a select few in the past, but in the coming of the Holy Spirit as recorded for us in the second chapter of Acts, and as continues today, God eternally fills the true believers in Yeshua who submit to God and accept God’s salvation plan. God now sends the Holy Spirit to all of his children through faith in Christ.
Joel 2:28–32
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.
Acts 2:1–41
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,
11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
13 Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine.
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
15 For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Digging Deeper
3) Regarding the Holy Spirit coming in power (as recorded in Acts 2), which allowed people to hear “the wonderful works of God” in their own language from those able via the gift of tongues to speak in languages previously unknown to them, was this a reversal of the confounding of the peoples’ language (as recorded in Genesis 11:7)?
The leading of the Holy Spirit enables humans to live at peace with God and with each other. The love and unity of the Spirit of God can eradicate the things that separate people from people. God’s children can experience peace before, during, and after any difficult circumstances. God’s children can experience peace even while going through the end times. Even in times when much of the world is not following close to God through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God can fill an individual with inexpressible peace even before the outside circumstances reflect that peace.
Philippians 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Digging Deeper
4) Since the coming of the Holy Spirit in power, why today does the world not live entirely at peace?
5) Can you be at peace even while going through difficult circumstances?
It is nice to note that even the outside circumstances God will bring, with us, into the realm of peace in conformity with God’s most perfect will. In due time, God’s will, to the benefit of God and all who love him, will be accomplished in a most spectacular way.
Isaiah 2:1–5
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
5 O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isaiah 64:4
4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
1 Corinthians 2:9–10
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Digging Deeper
6) When will there be peace on Earth?
7) Describe the peace on Earth that God has planned.
ABRAHAM (ABRAM)
14) bless…that bless thee…all families…blessed
Abraham (Abram)
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 12:3
3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
As more and more people and nations realize that by cursing the children of Israel, who are children of Abraham, they are precipitating the cursing of themselves, and by blessing the children of Israel they are triggering the blessing of themselves, Israel’s homecoming might continue to blossom as a rose in the desert.
Isaiah 35
1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God.
3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
The nations will see the miraculous blossoming of Israel, and all these nations can receive blessings as well.
Isaiah 61:11
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Digging Deeper
1) How could people’s realization that by blessing the children of Israel they could be triggering God’s blessing of themselves aid in the fulfillment of God’s prophecies concerning Israel’s homecoming?
The LORD told Abram that all people on Earth will be blessed through him. The LORD was not saying that all families of the Earth will be blessed by all of the families from the nation of Israel, or even by all of the other many families of the nations that came forth out of Abram’s body. This is so, even though many blessings have come from the people of Israel and from the many other peoples that are descendants of this wonderful person.
God later changed his name from Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of a multitude). The many peoples, many of which formed nations, that came forth out of Abraham’s body include the Ishmaelites, the Israelites, the Edomites, and the people that came forth out of Abraham’s six children with Keturah (Abraham’s wife after Sarah died): Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The Ishmaelites are the Arab peoples that came forth out of Abraham’s son, Ishmael, which Abram had with Sarah’s Egyptian handmaid, Hagar, while Sarah was still barren. The Israelites and the Edomites are the people of the nations that came forth out of Abraham’s grandsons, Jacob and Esau, who were the twin sons of Isaac, Abraham’s son with Sarah.
Yet if God is not telling Abram here that all families of the Earth will be blessed through all of the peoples that came forth from him, what is he saying? Maybe God is telling Abram that all the families of the Earth will one day be blessed by the promised Messiah that later came to offer salvation and a close relationship with God to the Israeli and to all people through faith in Yeshua.
You can see Yeshua’s family line traced back through Abraham in two of the gospels. See Matthew 1:1–17 for the earthly ancestral family line of Yeshua through Joseph, and see Luke 3:23–38 for the earthly ancestral family line of Yeshua through Mary.
Digging Deeper
2) Name some of the blessings that the descendants of Abraham who were not the Messiah have produced.
3) Name some of the blessings that the Messiah, Yeshua, has provided for “all families of the earth” after coming in the line of Abraham.
4) What was the LORD referencing when he said to Abram, “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed”?
15) Melchizedek king of Salem
Abraham (Abram)
Yeshua’s First Coming & Yeshua’s Post Resurrection Glory
Genesis 14:18–20
18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:
20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
These verses are very deep. It is interesting how Melchizedek brought forth bread and wine, similar to how Yeshua brought forth bread and wine while with his disciples. Possibly, the bringing forth of bread and wine by Melchizedek occurred and was recorded for us to have foreshadowed the New Covenant that later came through Yeshua.
Matthew 26:26–29
26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.
27And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;
28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.
Luke 22:13–20
13 And they went, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
14 And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.
15 And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:
16 For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God.
17 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves:
18 For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.
19 And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.
20 Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.
Digging Deeper
1) Was Melchizedek’s bringing forth of bread and wine a foreshadowing of when Yeshua brought forth the bread, representing his body, and the fruit of the vine, representing his blood, of the New Covenant?
Melchizedek provides a type of kingly and priestly foreshadowing of how Yeshua was to become king and high priest. Melchizedek was king of Salem (Salem was later called Jerusalem) and a priest of the Most High God. Yeshua is now a king and a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, and God’s prophetic Word reveals that he will one-day rule in Jerusalem. The arrival of Yeshua as a child born to Mary occurred approximately 1,900 years after this meeting of Abram and Melchizedek. Following are passages reflecting Yeshua’s Kingship:
Psalm 2:6–7
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Matthew 2:2
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
Matthew 27:11
11 And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.
Matthew 27:29
29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!
Matthew 27:37
37 And set up over his head his accusation written, THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Revelation 17:14
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Revelation 19:16
16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Revelation 21:1–3
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Revelation 21:22–24
22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Yeshua is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek; his priestly duties do not pass on but remain with him, in that after his resurrection from the dead he lives and reigns forever. Furthermore, Yeshua’s bodily sacrifice was a sacrifice for the remission of sins forever, and this sacrifice does not need repeating—yearly, sooner, or ever.
Psalm 110
1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Digging Deeper
2) Referencing Psalm 110:4, to whom was the LORD referring while stating, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek”?
In a related passage, in Zechariah, there are prophecies about “The BRANCH”: The LORD of hosts prophesied that “The BRANCH” would be “a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
Zechariah 6:12–13
12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
In Zechariah 6:13, the LORD prophesied about Yeshua. Yeshua is a king in the line of David, from the tribe of Judah, and a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Yeshua, the Prince of Peace, taking over the high priestly duties from the tribe of Levi after the line of Aaron, and the kingly duties from the tribe of Judah in the line of David, shall reign as king and high priest forever. Christ, being on his throne as king while also being high priest, fulfills this prophecy. Christ has also built the temple of the LORD, in that believers in Christ become the temple of the living God when the LORD sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in them.
Digging Deeper
3) In the Zechariah 6:13 verse, to whom was the LORD of hosts referring with the words, “Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both”?
Yeshua is a high priest not after the order of the high priests who came from the tribe of Levi, but after the order of Melchizedek. A priest after the order of Melchizedek is of a higher order than is a priest after the order of Levi.
Hebrews 5:1–10
1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7
1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;
3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:
6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.
19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)
22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.
23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.
Referencing Genesis 14:20, Abram, the patriarch, gave Melchizedek “tithes of all.” In addition, Melchizedek, high priest of God Most High, blessed Abram. Therefore, it seems that Christ, being high priest after the order of Melchizedek, is of a higher order than Abram’s (or Abraham’s) great grandson Levi’s descendants through the offspring of Aaron are. Aaron was the brother of Moses. Aaron and his sons were the first priests from the tribe of Levi consecrated at the Tabernacle of the Congregation after Israel escaped from Egypt.
Exodus 28:1
1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.
Digging Deeper
4) Why is being a “priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” more significant than being a priest after the order of Aaron?
5) Being a king and a high priest forever is a fairly high position. If Yeshua now rules at the right hand of his Father as King of kings and high priest forever, why has the Father bestowed such honor on him?
16) counted…for righteousness
Abraham (Abram)
Gospel Foreshadowing
Genesis 15:4–6
4 And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Because Abram believed in the LORD, the LORD accredited him with righteousness. This is very important to us, in that God’s promises to us are of greater value than our own attempts at self-righteousness. These attempts, exemplified by someone’s priding of oneself in his or her own ability to observe the law of God, mean little to God when rooted in arrogance.
Ezekiel 33:12–20
12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.
13 When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.
14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
15 If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.
16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.
17 Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.
18 When the righteous turneth from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, he shall even die thereby.
19 But if the wicked turn from his wickedness, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall live thereby.
20 Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways.
Genesis 15:6 portrays for us what was a foreshadowing of God’s plan of salvation. God’s salvation plan is for the Jew and the Gentile, and for or all humanity, through faith in Christ. God’s plan is for us to have the faith to believe that God sent his only begotten Son, Yeshua, to cover our sins through the sacrifice of his own life on the cross. God grants us eternal life and adopts us as eternal sons and daughters of God, and fills us with the Holy Spirit, when we by faith, like the faith of Abram, open the door of our hearts to God and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Revelation 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
As God credited Abram with righteousness after Abram believed in the LORD by believing the LORD’S promise that his seed will be as the stars, the LORD credits us with righteousness if we believe in the LORD by faithfully accepting that our years will be like the stars, or more so eternal, via God’s gift of eternal life through Christ.
Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God—begotten, not made. He came to Earth in human likeness. While he was here on Earth, he was both fully God and fully human. Yeshua is the Son of God, sent to Earth in flesh and blood for the redemption of those who believe that the LORD truly sent him as the Scriptures indicate.
Psalm 32:1–2
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Romans 4
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Digging Deeper
1) The LORD promised Abram, “Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Give reason why this promise might have been difficult to believe had Abram not believed in God’s power and faithfulness.
2) What has anybody ever promised to you that you found it difficult to believe?
3) Did this person deliver on this promise to you?
4) Do people’s unfulfilled promises from other people sometimes inhibit their belief that God will fulfill his promises?
5) Why was the LORD so impressed with Abram’s belief in the LORD that the LORD even “counted it to him for righteousness”?
6) Is there a belief we can have that the LORD counts for us as righteousness?
Our righteousness through faith in Christ can on occasion seem to make no sense, until it hits us.
Art Katz. What a Jew does with Jesus. Laporte, MN: Burning Bush Press 2002. <www.BenIsrael.org>, <artkatzministries.org/what-a-jew-does-with-jesus> (From time 44:33–47:18)
These were Jews who had encountered the living God. And they prayed for me passionately, and with me and for me, and opened up to me the Scriptures, and showed me the relationship between the Old and New Testament Scriptures, of the hundreds of prophecies that pertaining to a Messiah to come, that could only have been fulfilled by one in point of time.
And I went to sleep that fourth night so sacked out, whacked out of my skull, I couldn’t think straight. And I was trying by the power of intellect to put all these things into place and I couldn’t! And my brain, which I had honed to a sharp edge, was failing me! I was not going to be saved by the exercise of my own intelligence. Because all the rest of my life I’d be boasting about how sharp I was and looking with contempt upon those who were not quite as clever. By faith are we saved, by the grace of God.
In my sleep that night, in my ultimate confusion, ready to leave the next day perplexed, unable to save myself, God did something in my heart in my sleep. I could feel the pieces falling into place and I woke the next morning, with the most wonderful sense of peace and calm that I had never before enjoyed all my adult life. I came to the breakfast table and I…said to this woman, Rena, “Rena, I believe I understand.” And the woman without a word fell out of her seat on the floor, knocked her chair over, had her arms above her head praising God, weeping. Because her prayer that night had been, “Lord, we’ve done everything for this stubborn man, you make him to understand.”
God gave me understanding, people, not that I understood all, in fact I understood little, but I understood sufficiently. I understood that there was a resurrected Christ. I didn’t understand Triune God, body, ah, Father, Son, Holy Spirit; I didn’t understand virgin birth; I didn’t understand doctrine and theology. But I understood that there was a living God, that there was a living Christ, a Messiah, a Holy one knocking at the door of my heart; and I just couldn’t go on saying that I was a man who respected truth and a man of integrity and turn from him.
And so in my pitiful condition, I prayed my first prayer in thirty-five years (quite an accomplishment for a blasphemer, a man who was sharp with his mouth to incite people to violence or to seduce women, speaking his first prayer). It was the most awkward choked performance you could ever imagine. But guess what? God received it. And something immediately happened. I felt something leaving me, going out of me that was angry, bitter, dark, selfish, lustful, and something new was coming in to replace it, a new Spirit, a Holy Spirit, Ruakh HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit of God.
Digging Deeper
7) Have you been struck with faith in God?
God accredits us with righteousness through our faith in Jesus. Jesus can set us free from the chains of sin that tie us to the ground. If God’s Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
John 8:28–36
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spake these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
1 John 2:23–25
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
Digging Deeper
8) Which is more important to God, our ancestral heritage or our faith in God?
9) Are you free?
17) establish…with him…everlasting covenant
Abraham (Abram)
Yeshua’s First Coming & Israel’s Homecoming
Genesis 17:15–22
15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be.
16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.
17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.
21 But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
It is interesting how even Abraham’s faith seemed to wane slightly. Previously, Abram believed in the LORD when the LORD told him that his descendants would be as the stars; yet Abraham fell on his face and laughed when God told him that his wife Sarah “shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her.”
God’s patience is quite magnificent though, as God could have said, “Oh, you think that’s funny, tell me how funny you think it would be if I destroy you and your family with flames and establish my covenant with another?” Fortunately, God did not do this; but God did respond to Abraham’s laughter almost subtly. God told Abraham, “thou shalt call his name Isaac”; the name Isaac means, “he laughs”; and that “he laughs” we could think of as “God laughs” if we thought it to be referencing God laughing.
Even though God’s promise produced laughter from Abraham, and later Sarah, God knew that his promise would succeed and then God could laugh. (God could laugh anyway; he’s God.) If God did laugh after the birth of Isaac, I suspect his laughter was more heart full of love laughter than sardonic laughter—in friendly good humor of Abraham’s laughter.
A fellow once was lacking in faith; yet he asked Yeshua to help his unbelief.
Mark 9:20–27
20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
Digging Deeper
1) Mention any promises or prophecies God has made in the Bible that have yet to reach fulfillment that people might laugh at.
2) Why might this laughter take place?
3) What is God’s batting average, or rate of fulfillment, concerning his prophecies about the Messiah’s first coming?
4) What does this tell you about other prophecies of God that currently have yet to reach fulfillment?
5) What will be God’s batting average, or rate of fulfillment, concerning all of his prophecies in the Bible?
6) Since God shows such patience with Abraham when he falls on his face and laughs after hearing God’s promise, will God also show patience with us if we laugh or do not always show absolute faithfulness about God’s promises in our lives?
7) How could God help increase our faith if we ask him to?
God established his everlasting covenant with Isaac and through his seed. The promised Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth, came in the line of Isaac, not in the line of Ishmael. We can have eternal life through the eternal covenant established by the blood of Yeshua. God blessed Ishmael richly and multiplied him exceedingly, as we can see in the numerous Arab peoples that God has brought forth and blessed.
I write these words as someone who loves both Israeli and Arab people, as well as non-Semitic people. Certainly, currently, various problems seem to exist between some Arabs and some Israelis. The problems that exist between any two peoples only magnify if both sides adopt a spirit of hatred, fault listing, and antagonism instead of a spirit of love, forgiveness, and encouragement. The precedent of forgiving those who have sinned against us we have often trampled over on the path to vengeance.
God has blessed all people in the coming of his Son, the Messiah. Deliverance is for all people who accept God’s gift of eternal life through faith in Yeshua Mashiach. The Messiah came in the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Should people not in these ancestral lines be jealous of those who are, or should those who are in these ancestral lines look down on others who might not be? Certainly not, I say. God made us all in the image of God, whether we are children of Isaac, Ishmael, or Whosie-ma-what’s-his-name. We can all become adopted sons and daughters of God through faith in Yeshua, the only begotten Son of God. This is the most important family with which to belong: God’s family.
John 1:12–13
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Son of Man, who is the Son of God, came through one woman whose family ancestral heritage, as well as her espoused husband Joseph’s ancestral heritage, was in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, David, and others. God blessed this ancestral family line by bringing forth his only begotten Son to Earth through this line. Wow. This special blessing of the descendents that came in the line of Abraham, Isaac, Israel, and David, came in fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham that in Isaac “I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”
We can be happy that God has a special calling for all of our lives. The details beyond God’s desire to know each one of us personally I am not entirely aware of, but knowing that God desires to know and love us is in and of itself a good calling beyond comprehension.
Hosea 2:23
23 And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.
Romans 9:1–9
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
Romans 9:23–33
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Isaiah 8:11–17
11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Isaiah 28:9–20
9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
14 Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
15 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.
18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
19 From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
20 For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.
It seems that God is doing a great work through the children of Israel. Although many of his beloved people Israel have rejected God’s Son, the one who died for their salvation, God is now lifting the veil and opening their eyes to the risen Messiah, and bringing them in even closer to his bosom in fulfillment of the many prophecies concerning this matter.
This is great for all of us: For the Israeli, the Arab, the Gentile, the descendants of Ham, and even the rest of the world. This is great for all those created in the image of God. This is even great for all of God’s creation. God can bless all of us through this fulfillment of prophecy. God calls each one of us to himself in a personal and spectacular manner; for this, we all can celebrate. Moreover, the children of Israel can be glad that God continues to call them home.
Israel’s homecoming is a great happening. Israel’s homecoming is also a precursor to Yeshua’s second coming and the resurrection of the dead.
Romans 11:15
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
Digging Deeper
8) Mention passages in the Scriptures that show God’s love for all people regardless of genealogical heritage.
9) Show instances in the Scriptures where God demonstrates a specific calling for a specific people.
10) Show instances in the Scriptures where God demonstrates a specific calling for a specific small group or for an individual.
11) Why is Israel’s homecoming good for all of God’s family?
12) Give me a high-five!
God told Abraham, “Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.” Therefore, Abraham must have known to get busy in about three months.
Digging Deeper
13) Would you think it wise if God told all of us the times of birth of our children, if we were to have any; or do you prefer the way things are, whereas the time of birth of our children and whether or not we will have a child can sometimes be quite a surprise?
14) Which aspects of your life do you believe surprises are more likely to happen, and how do you feel about this?
15) Which aspects of your life do you believe surprises are less likely to happen, and how do you feel about this?
18) Shall I hide…all…blessed in him?
Abraham (Abram)
Gospel Foreshadowing & Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 18:17–19
17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
The LORD asked, “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?” However, the LORD did reveal to Abraham what he was doing. In the same sense, the LORD has revealed to us mysteries previously hidden from us since the dawn of creation. The LORD has delightfully made these mysteries perceivable and manifest to us through Christ, the Holy Scriptures, and the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 16:25–26
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
1 Corinthians 2:7–10
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Digging Deeper
1) Regarding God’s revelation of himself to us:
a. Has God revealed more and more about himself to us in stages throughout history?
b. Give examples of how God has done this.
c. Why has God done this?
In Genesis 18:18 we see another citation of the promise of God to bless the whole world through Abraham, as Yeshua Mashiach came in the earthly line of Abraham.
The words from Genesis 18:19, “For I know him,” were translated from the Hebrew words, kiy yada`; these words show the intimacy that existed between the LORD and Abraham. For yada` (to know) is the same word that was translated “knew” to describe Adam making love with his wife.
Genesis 4:1
1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD.
This intimacy extends to us as well. The imagery of the bride (or the church) marrying the bridegroom (Christ, or God) appears throughout the Scriptures. For examples, see Isaiah 62:5, Matthew 22:2–14, and Revelation 21:2, 21:9, and 22:17.
Digging Deeper
2) What does the LORD’S use of the word yada` (to know) and examples of marriage between God and his people tell you about the depth of closeness that God desires with those who love him?
19) God will provide himself a lamb
Abraham (Abram)
Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 22:1–14
1 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
3 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
God saw that Abraham loved him. Abraham trusted God so much that Abraham was willing to do what many might consider to go against what made any sense. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son, his only son through Sara, whom he loved. Possibly, Abraham was willing to do this because of his deep love for God, and his trust in the loving nature of God.
Abraham knew God, understood his loving character, and trusted him to do what was right with his son. Abraham comprehended that God is the author of life and could bring his son to life again, or even stop him from offering Isaac. Abraham even said to his young men, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” This might show that Abraham was well aware of God’s gracefulness, possibly already believing that both he and Isaac would return.
Hebrews 11:17–19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
God demonstrated his own love for us in a similar manner to how Abraham demonstrated his love for God. God saw Abraham’s love for him, displayed by Abraham’s willingness to offer his son as an offering to God. God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son and later used this scenario to demonstrate how much God loves us. The Gospel of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16, describes how much God loves us.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Digging Deeper
1) How would you describe the level of Abraham’s trust in God when Abraham obeyed God by starting to carry out the task of offering his son whom he loved as an offering to God?
2) If God really is a person’s God, why or why not should God take precedence in this person’s life over one such person’s family?
3) Cite Scripture to support your opinion.
4) Since God offered his only begotten Son, whom the Father loves, so we, with faith in Christ, can experience salvation from perishing and have everlasting life while being children of God, what does this tell you about the depth of God’s affection for us?
Isaac asked his father, “where is the lamb…?” Abraham replied, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb….” We later see that Abraham found a ram and sacrificed the ram as an offering. Nevertheless, what about the lamb that Abraham said that God would provide? Was this a prophetic foreshadowing of the coming of the Lamb of God—God’s only begotten Son, Yeshua?
John 1:29
29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Revelation 7:10
10 And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Digging Deeper
5) Abraham said, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb….” Was this a prophetic foreshadowing of the coming of the Lamb of God, Yeshua, whom God provided for our salvation?
When translators of the Bible translate the word God from the Hebrew word 'Elohiym or from the Greek word Theos (both of these words, we could define “supreme [singular yet plural] Triune Godhead”), seemingly singular pronouns such as he, his, or himself are often used in conjunction. This has happened even when the original authors of the Hebrew or Greek text correctly used the pronouns that are supposed to be used to represent both singular and plural nouns, in accordance with the rules of grammar for these languages. Moreover, sometimes, translators might even insert pronouns that are not present in the original text in order to make the translated text more understandable. Translators might have used, or added, singular pronouns instead of using plural pronouns such as they, their, or themselves to emphasize the unity of this Godhead.
For example, let us look at some of the words of Abraham to his son Isaac in Genesis 22:8: Abraham said, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb….” In transliterated Hebrew, this reads, “ben 'Elohiym ra'ah seh…”; and a literal word for word translation would read, “Son God provide lamb….” The translator or translators of this passage from the King James Bible possibly added the word himself to make this sentence more understandable in English, as it was not directly translated from any Hebrew word.
Translators might have used seemingly singular, masculine pronouns even if the pronouns in the original text were referring to more than one of the members of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead that harmoniously acts and exists as one God. Moreover, in other instances, the Hebrew word 'Elohiym and the Greek word Theos that are both often translated “God”—and singular pronouns used in conjunction—might be denoting a particular individual who is a member of the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead that harmoniously acts and exists as one God.
Concerning pronouns referencing the Godhead and the use of the word God when translated from the Hebrew word 'Elohiym or the Greek word Theos, looking at the context is helpful when trying to understand to whom a pronoun or the word God is referring.
People often refer to God in the masculine, and 'Elohiym (translated “God”) is a masculine noun, but since God created both the first male and female—and all humans since—in God’s image, the supreme (singular yet plural) Triune Godhead is beyond any sexual exclusivity that we might try to ascribe to him (or should I say, ascribe to God). We cannot limit God by any boundaries with which we might mentally, or grammatically, attempt to restrict God. Many languages do not have pronouns that refer exclusively to God, and quite often, seemingly singular, masculine pronouns are used.
Digging Deeper
6) Why do not many languages have pronouns that refer exclusively to God?
7) How does the use of singular masculine pronouns in translations of text that did not use these singular masculine pronouns affect some peoples understanding of God?
As Abraham and Isaac went on together, believing that God would provide himself a lamb, so we, in the fellowship of Christ, can go on together in unity and in support of one another, having been provided for by the lamb of God.
Moriah is the area where the crucifixion, sacrifice, or offering of Yeshua took place. Thus, the saying, “In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” or “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided” could be pointing us toward the time when the LORD provided his Son as a means to show his love for us by providing us with the option to have our sins forgiven. Yeshua’s sacrifice for us was a perfect, good for all eternity, sacrifice that needs no repeating. Yeshua willingly gave his life for our salvation.
This has happened.
Digging Deeper
8) Answer the following questions regarding Genesis 22:14, “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen”:
a. What does Jehovahjireh mean?
b. What was Abraham talking about?
c. In the mountain, or hill, of the LORD, who has provided what for us?
20) in thy seed…all…nations…blessed
Abraham (Abram)
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 22:15–18
15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
There is no one higher, so the LORD swore by himself, to show the firmness with which the LORD made this promise.
Digging Deeper
1) Since the LORD said, “By myself have I sworn,” does it seem that the LORD was serious about fulfilling this promise to Abraham?
Abraham demonstrated his love for God through his trusting obedience.
John 14:15
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:21
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
John 14:24
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Digging Deeper
2) Because Abraham did not withhold his son, the LORD swore that he would multiply his seed, and that “in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”:
a. Is it wise to follow the LORD, even if your own family members want you not to, or believe themselves, mistakenly or otherwise, adversely affected by your doing so?
b. Cite other biblical passages that indicate the importance of following the LORD’S leading even if some in your family do not support this.
3) Abraham obeyed the voice of the LORD:
a. Why would our obedience to the LORD be a blessing to the LORD?
b. Cite other passages in the Bible that demonstrate the importance of our being obedient to God.
Abraham showed his faith in God through his obedience. God blessed Abraham by promising to multiply his seed, which God continues to accomplish today. God also blessed Abraham by promising that his seed will possess the gate of his enemies, which can help in their continuance; and if they continue, they are more able to receive God’s deliverance.
Digging Deeper
4) How has God succeeded in multiplying Abraham’s seed as the stars of heaven or as the sand of the seashore?
5) How does Israel possess the gate of his enemies?
6) The LORD stated about Israel, “and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies”; if you wanted Israel not to posses your gate, would you feel it wise not to be Israel’s enemy?
Furthermore, God blessed all nations by the seed of Abraham in the coming of Yeshua of Nazareth, as we can see Yeshua’s lineage traced in the line of Abraham.
Galatians 3:16–18
16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.
18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Hebrews 2:16
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Digging Deeper
7) How has Abraham’s seed blessed all nations of the Earth?
ISAAC
21) Isaac and Ishmael buried him
Isaac
Israel’s Homecoming
Genesis 25:8–10
8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;
10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
As Isaac and Ishmael, the fathers of the Israeli and the Arab peoples, came together in spite of the turmoil they had been through to bury their father Abraham, so might some of the Israelis and Arabs come together because of their heavenly Father’s wishes for them to do so.
Digging Deeper
1) In spite of their past difficulties, will some Israelis and Arabs come together through Christ to the pleasure of their heavenly Father?
22) in thy seed…all…nations…blessed
Isaac
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 26:1–6
1 And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.
2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of:
3 Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father;
4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar:
The LORD said to Isaac, “And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries….” If the LORD promised to multiply Isaac’s seed as the stars of heaven, and to provide a place for his descendants to dwell, Israel’s establishment and homecoming seems much more viable.
Digging Deeper
2) The LORD promised Isaac, “And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries”; is this promise still applicable today?
3) What does this indicate about many of the children of Israel’s desire to exist peacefully in the land of Israel?
4) Can Israel and Palestine exist peaceably next to each other; and if so, how so?
The LORD said to Isaac, “and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed….” The promised Messiah came in the line of Isaac.
Hebrews 11:18
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Digging Deeper
5) Why does it matter whether Yeshua came in the line of Isaac or not?
6) Although Abraham laughed when the LORD told him that his wife who was ninety years old would have his child born of her, the LORD fulfilled this promise. The LORD also reaffirmed the oath he made to Abraham to Isaac. What does this tell you about the LORD’S faithfulness?
7) Did Isaac grow up knowing that his very life was a miracle?
8) How might have this affected him?
9) Is it a miracle that you are alive?
10) How does this affect you?
ISRAEL (JACOB)
23) stones…for his pillows
Israel (Jacob)
Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 28:10–11
10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.
11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
There are similarities between this circumstance in the life of Jacob and circumstances in Yeshua’s life. Yeshua is the one through whom the Gospel came. Jacob put stones for his pillows, and survived not always living in the lap of luxury, as Yeshua on occasion had no place to lay his head.
Matthew 8:20
20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.
Yeshua survived temporary homelessness, as Jacob did, and endured living not always in luxury in fulfillment of the calling that his Father had placed on him to preach the Good News to the poor and to all else.
Isaiah 61:1–2
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
Luke 4:15–21
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all.
16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Digging Deeper
1) Jacob and Yeshua both faced difficulties. We might consider one such difficulty they both faced to be sleeping outside on occasion. Why would the LORD allow homelessness, or sleeping outside, to the following individuals?
a. Jacob
b. Yeshua
c. Someone else
d. Yourself
2) Should we choose God over the luxuries of this world if they were in conflict of each other?
3) Cite Scripture verses to support the point that we should choose God over the luxuries of this world if they were in conflict of each other.
It seems also true that at other times of their lives, both Jacob and Yeshua had wonderful places to stay. However, each was able to move forward in their ministries even through lack of housing, and Jacob, even through the circumstance of having only rocks instead of soft pillows on which to lay his head.
Digging Deeper
4) Does the LORD always call his children to difficult circumstances, to wonderful circumstances, or to either of the two in different measure at different times in their lives?
5) Why would God do this?
6) Does God want us to live our lives to the fullest?
7) Cite Scripture verses that show that we should enjoy the blessings God gives us.
24) ladder…reached to heaven
Israel (Jacob)
Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 28:12
12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.
This amazing vision that Jacob realized in his dream, of a ladder set up on Earth reaching to Heaven with angels of God ascending and descending on it, is quite like the picture that Yeshua painted on the mind of Nathanael, about Heaven opening with angels ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.
John 1:47–51
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Digging Deeper
1) What does the ladder in Jacob’s dream represent?
2) Is there any significance to the similarities between what Jacob saw in his dream, about the ladder, and what Jesus shared with Nathanael, about how Nathanael “shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man”?
3) Before witnessing the many miracles that Jesus later performed, was Nathanael’s belief that Jesus was the Son of God and the King of Israel foolish, wise, or otherwise?
25) in thy seed…all…families…blessed
Israel (Jacob)
Israel’s Homecoming & Yeshua’s First Coming
Genesis 28:13–15
13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;
14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
The LORD promised to give Jacob and his seed the land upon which he stood. The LORD did bless the offspring, or seed, of Jacob, and they have spread abroad to the west, east, north, and south. The LORD spread the children of Israel out; the LORD will gather the children of Israel in.
Digging Deeper
1) The LORD said to Jacob, “the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed”:
a. Does this apply to the children of Israel of today living on the land of Israel?