05 / 19 / 06
(Comments in parentheses and emphasis are mine)

FIRST THOUGHTS:

I pray that this devotion will do for you, what it did for me … “Wow, if that’s the case, everything changes!”

Family genealogy

Yep, it’s all about our family tree! I am fascinated about where I came from, aren’t you? I mean, our great, great, great, grandpa … who was he and what did he do? I asked my Mother if she had a “family tree” … she did!! (My Mother led me to her Brother, my Uncle, and he had pictures and even locations. He had times and dates and what they did for a living … it was awesome!)

As children of God (who is NOT flesh, but Spirit … “God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24)), we also have a family tree and it goes back to Abraham!! Which leads us to Isaac; Which leads us to Jacob who received the name Israel. The Israelites … they are the family of God (both to the Jews and to the Gentiles who believe!!). It has always been that way. This is where our story begins. If you want to know the rules of the family and how God expects His children to act … go to the family history book … God’s Word. Even our Brother, Yeshua (Jesus) came from the line of David (He HAD to … in order to be part of the family and fulfill the promise). By faith in Yeshua (Jesus), we are heirs to the throne (we are Israel … Jew, Gentile, slave or free, male or female … all who believe!!) Read the next couple of verses very carefully … for they are spiritually discerned. They are showing what God has been revealing since creation:

- “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring – not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16) What this is saying is that Abraham’s offspring are not only the physical (those who were received the Law – see study on “under the Law”), but also those who have overcome the world, like Jacob, and believe.
- “In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” (Romans 9:8) … (Did you see it? Israel, God’s chosen people, is actually comprised of those who live by faith in the Messiah!! It has always been that way. Listen to Romans 9:6-7a … “It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children.” (Then it goes into Romans 9:8 above. Note: Did you see what we were called in the Messiah? Israel! Not even those who descended from the natural lineage are Israel, if they do not believe.)

Do you believe in the promise of the Messiah? Do you believe that Yeshua (Jesus) is that Messiah? Then you are part of the family of Israel!! NOT a new or changed Israel, the same one including Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!! So when you read the family lineage and history … it’s YOUR family and mine. What was given to THEM is given to us (same covenants … same promise of the land … same Laws to live by) So when it says in places like Leviticus 23:2 … “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed feasts, the appointed feasts of YHVH, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies” it is speaking to US, as well! REMINDER: We do NOT do them to earn salvation (like some imposters were doing back then), but out of faith!! These are OUR gifts and heritage, as well! I mean, if God says they are His … who are we to change them? Some imposters did!! Our Brother and Savior did not!! (Matthew 5:17-19)

Please stay with me on this. For many, over time, have almost destroyed our heritage in the Messiah. I pray that you are able to put aside, for a moment, all the traditions and teachings of man and consider what is about to be shown to you from God’s Word. Let us trace our family tree and see who is Israel and who is not.

NOTES (before we start our search for God’s truths):

- If we follow God’s Word as a “complete” description of our family history … it will come alive right before us. (We should not go into His Word saying to ourselves, “I will not change or go against what I have been taught.” Instead, we should search God’s Word and say, “Show me, Lord, how you want me to live and I will do it … no matter what it takes or what I may lose in this life.”)
- Gentiles are referred to as aliens, strangers, as well as “foreigners among you” before Christ came (this knowledge will help us when we read passages like “Peter and the sheet”. God NEVER called us Gentiles “unclean”). Read about the end times in Zechariah 2:8, then down to 2:11. This will show that Israel, daughter of Zion, is the apple of God’s eye, as well as all the nations that join her!! “For this is what YHVH Almighty says: ‘After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you (Israel) – for whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye … Many nations will be joined with YHVH in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that YHVH Almighty has sent me to you.’”
- The Community of Israel always consisted of the natural born Israelites and those who sojourned with them (Those who wanted the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) as their God). This definition is drawn from such verses as “… must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether he is an alien or native-born.” (Exodus 12:19b)

WITH THE ABOVE KNOWN, LET US LOOK INTO THE GENEOLOGY OF ISREAL … (What about us Gentiles … were we always welcomed into the family? As an Israelite, did the Gentiles have the same Laws as the natural-born children?)

Today, much of the main-stream church teaches that God’s laws are different for us (the Gentiles) … is this true or a false teaching? I have found that the SAME Laws of God applied to the aliens and the natural-born (They didn’t have separate rules … such as “one for the Jews and one for the Gentiles” … if you were Israel, God’s children, you had family rules (Don’t we all inside our own physical families?) These Laws that we are to obey are the exact ones that our Messiah did. We are to imitate Him! (In order to understand many teachings, we must know the original Laws. Then we will know what Yeshua (Jesus) was correcting and rebuking the teachers of being wrong of!):

- The same law applies to the native-born and to the alien living among you.” (Exodus 12:49)
- “One and the same law applies to everyone who sins unintentionally, whether he is a native-born Israelite or an alien.” (Numbers 15:29)
- “But you must keep my decrees and my laws. The native-born and the aliens living among you must not do any of these detestable things, for all these things were done by the people who lived in the land before you, and the land became defiled.” (Leviticus 18:26-27)

Please note: As we read through God’s word and the descriptions about our family (Israel) … we will find that the Gentiles were ALWAYS welcomed in and accepted. It was the natural born children who eventually had the problem with us and put walls up to separate us and them. Remember the walls of hostility that our Savior destroyed? They were the dividing walls inside and around the temple that the natural-born Israelites installed to separate us. (Ephesians 2:14-15). Even the dogma laws that stood opposed to us (NOT God’s laws!!). My friends, listen to God’s heart as He tells His natural children NOT to oppress us, the aliens: “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.” (Exodus 23:9). Even when the Israelites left Egypt, MANY of the Egyptians who saw the wonders of YHVH, came with them!! (Exodus 12:38) BUT … once these outsiders were inside the family, they were to obey the same laws as the natural-born children. (Because of their faith – even back then as it is today – NOT to gain salvation!!)

- Nothing has changed, even today, if someone is an unbeliever, they are outsiders, excluded from citizenship. They are without God and without hope! “Remember that at that time (Before we knew God) you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12) (That verse stands alone!!!)

- Do you remember Peter’s vision? Most remember it as the verse “giving us freedom to disobey God’s dietary laws”, but in truth, it is about us Gentiles having NEVER been unclean before God. Acts 10:9-28 … “… But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean.” (This verse is the conclusion about the dream. This is what the dream was all about! It was NOT about what we can or cannot eat … even Peter said in verse 14 … “Surely not, Lord!”. Peter knew that it would be a sin!)

- “The whole Israelite community and the aliens living among them will be forgiven, because all the people were involved in the unintentional wrong.” (Numbers 15:26) (Yes, even God’s mercy extended to the Gentile believers who were part of the family.)

- “The community is to have the SAME rules for you (the natural-born) and the alien living among you (That’s the Gentiles who came to love and worship the God of Israel!); this is a lasting ordinance (This means “forever” in the original words) for the generations to come. You (Again, the natural-born) and the alien (Again, that’s the Gentiles who love God) shall be the SAME before YHVH. The SAME laws and regulations will apply BOTH to you and to the alien living among you.” (Numbers 15:15-16) (When did this change? Did our Savior change it? My friends, that would have been a sin, if He did!!)

Okay, this can go on and on. The fact is, as God gives the family of Israel rules to live by (And what loving father would NOT have rules for the family?), we discover that anyone who came to Him in true faith … became part of the family … Israel! Whether natural-born or an alien.

GOD REVEALS WHO ISRAEL IS … EVEN BACK IN THE PROPHETS!! (Why are we changing God’s Law, simply because we are now His children? Isn’t that being disobedient children? Why did we change the family name and the family heritage given us? Read these verses VERY carefully and find US (The Gentiles) embracing our heritage again … God’s Sabbath, Feasts, eating diet, and the rest):

- (Speaking of the end times when God is going to call His children together again) “One will say, ‘I belong to YHVH’; another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘YHVH’s,’ and will TAKE THE NAME ISRAEL.” (Isaiah 44:5)

- “Let no FOREIGNER who has bound himself to YHVH say, “YHVH will surely exclude me from His people (Gods people is Israel … we will NOT be excluded.) … And foreigners who bind themselves to YHVH to serve Him, to love the name of YHVH, and to worship Him, ALL who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant – these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for ALL nations.” (Isaiah 56:3a and 6-7)

- “This is what YHVH Almighty says: ‘In those days ten men from ALL languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.’’” (Zechariah 8:23) My friends, this has already begun to happen!! People are embracing the laws given to our forefathers! We are embracing our family again! Remember the exodus from Egypt when God called His children out of the bondage of slavery (representing our bondage to sin)? It is happening again … just as God’s word has prophesied! God’s Law is being embraced again. God’s family and name HE gave to us is being realized … as God’s attention is going back to the natural-born Israelites … again. We are part of the continued history!!
 “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel (the natural-born) has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.” (Romans 11:25)
 (Can you see God’s calling again? Can you see Israel “on the move again?” He is calling “Return to me”! Are you going to sojourn with them, as they return?) “Go, proclaim this message toward the North: ‘Return, faithless Israel,’ declares YHVH, ‘I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful’, declares YHVH, ‘I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt – you have rebelled against YHVH YOUR God, you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, and have NOT obeyed me’, declares YHVH.” (Jeremiah 3:12-13)

- Remember, God’s calling out to the natural-born Israelite is irreversible (He promised that He will never stop calling them to repentance and salvation … “for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)) He promised that He will always call them to “return … repent”.
NOTE: There have been many attempts to explain away who “Israel” is. Two such explanations, in short, are:

First explanation: That we (Gentiles) are the “New Israel” … is this true? This cannot be true since Paul talks about this in Romans 11:1 … “I ask then: Did God reject His people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.”

Second explanation: That God has displaced (or put aside) the natural-born Israelites for a “season” while He tends to His “true bride” (Us Gentiles) … is this true? This is not true, either, because there is only ONE family!
- “I have other sheep that are NOT of this sheep pen. (What sheep pen? Israel!) I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) This verse talks about God taking the time to gather us Gentiles into His pen. He is NOT making a new pen or a new family. But, just like it has always been, He has allowed us Gentiles to sojourn with them and become part of the family! My friends in Christ, we Gentiles are simply part of the continued journey of God’s family. So let us sojourn with them as part of them … same rules … same God … and same family name!
- “There is ONE body and ONE Spirit – just as you were called to ONE hope when you were called – ONE Lord, ONE faith, ONE baptism, ONE God and Father of ALL, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Ephesians 4:4-6) (So why does much of the mainstream church, today, say that we Gentiles “displaced” Israel or “replaced” them?)

THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE JEWS … if they are not living by faith, they are not TRUE ISRAELITES. This statement does NOT change God’s Laws or His covenants! All who believe in the promised Messiah are Israel … part of the family by faith. A heritage of God! We were given laws to live by, by the very breath of God.)

Just like in the past (before our Savior came to earth), there will always be imposters. Let us not make up a new family or create doctrines that go against what God has revealed and set down for us to do. God will come and separate the sheep from the goats, again, just like He did back in Jeremiah 3:8! It was the “FAITHLESS” Israelites who were sent away … NOT the ones living by FAITH! God’s word does NOT fail … those who believe are, in fact, Israel.

Let me ask you: Are all Jews true Israelites (to God)? Is there two ways to be saved: Being a Jew and believing in Yeshua (Jesus)? Of course not! Even among the Jews, those who do NOT believe are NOT Israel – they received the certificate of divorce! Only faith in the Messiah gets you into the family of Israel!

This same fact is for the Gentiles who call themselves Christians. Let me ask you: Are all Christians part of the family of God? Are all those who go up during an altar call truly saved? Or are only the ones living by faith in the Messiah?
- “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus). If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28-29) (My brothers and sisters in the Messiah, this does NOT mean that we change the heritage of the Jews (For Christ, Himself, did not), this does NOT mean that we change God’s festivals, His Sabbath, His Laws … simply for the sake of traditions! We are just as much a part of the family of Israel as a believing Jew is! We are one with the believing Jews in the family. NOT to come in and change things – only God can do that!)
- “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born NOT of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

Get to know your family tree … your heritage. Let us embrace the kingdom that God gave our forefathers. The kingdom He promised Israel … our family. God’s family is to be holy and made up of obedient children who desire to live by His Laws. Made up of children who show love to others, without sinning. Children who long to please Him at all times!

LAST THOUGHTS:

- IF … God’s children (who live by faith) are indeed Israel … then when God says, “Say to the Israelites … ” … it is to US personally that He speaking.
- IF … God’s children (who live by faith) are indeed Israel … then when God’s Word says, “I will love Israel forever” … He is letting US know that He will never leave us.
- IF … God’s children (who live by faith) are indeed Israel … then the entire Word is applicable for US today and OUR lives (Hebrews 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:16).
- IF … God’s children (who live by faith) are indeed Israel … it just makes sense that our Savior is “your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 41:14).

Our Brother, the Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus) is the shepherd of Israel … the family of God. You and I are each one of those branches of the family tree! “For out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of MY PEOPLE Israel.” (Matthew 2:6b) Our Savior is the Root supporting us and giving us the nourishing Sap (His Spirit)!