Last week, we brought up the concept of Abraham’s expanding tent. What does it look like and who does it include? For many, this tent belongs only to the lost tribes of Israel, meaning the lost tribes of Jacob. In fact, Yeshua himself stated, “I come to the lost tribes of Israel.” But are we seeing the entire picture of Salvation? Who does the Kingdom of God include? And, do we truly understand the words of Yeshua?
In this week’s Torah portion entitled “generations,” we see Esau selling his birthright due to extreme hunger. At the same time, we see Jacob willing to usurp Esau by selling rather than sharing his food to a hungry brother. From this point forward, Esau becomes lost in feelings of jealousy and anger. He even seems to bury these feeling by marrying outside of his family wishes, eventually moving towards appeasing his parents by taking a daughter of Ishmeal as a wife in hopes of regaining favor.
As we found out from last week’s blog, Keturah, Abraham’s second wife received gifts from Abraham for her sons. Not “the inheritance” as given to Isaac, but “gifts.” We then explored the ways these tribes were involved in Israel’s journey over the years.
This week, I found it interesting that the daughter of Ishmael taken as a wife for Esau was Mahalath the sister of Nebaioth, the first-born son of Ishmael. Why is this interesting? I found it interesting in that Nebaioth as well as the line of Keturah are mentioned in Isaiah 60—a prophecy dedicated to the returning glory of Zion, the City of David.
A multitude of camels will cover you,
The young camels of Midian and Ephah;
All those from Sheba will come;
They will bring gold and frankincense,
And proclaim good news of the praises of the Lord.
7 All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered to you,
The rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
They will go up on My altar with acceptance, Is. 60:6-7
This prophecy raises at least two very important questions:
- How do the tribes of Nebaioth (son of Ishmael) and Keturah (Abraham’s second wife) bring glory to Zion?
- If Esau is hated by YHWH (Mal.1) how is it that Mahalath his wife, sister to Nebaioth brings an offering of acceptance?
Why are these questions important? In our journey or search for our identity in finding Messiah, we sometimes corner YHWH by assuming who we believe is more righteous than another, not realizing that Yah may have a remnant people coming to worship Him from areas we may not consider worthy.
In trying to find your identity in Messiah you may want to consider the tent of Abraham through the following pictures of people who are identified and gathered into the Kingdom of God.
- Yeshua said to the Samaritan woman at the well, “Salvation comes from the Jews (Judah and Benjamin, the line of King David).” (John 4) Though in this comment, Yeshua let it be known that true worshipers would be expanded beyond Jerusalem for the Jews and Mount Gerizim for the Samaritans. (As a note: To the Jew a Samaritan was more revolting than a Gentile (pagan) in that the Samaritan was a half-bred (a mix of Israelite and foreigner) who considered their worship more accurate to the writings of Moses than Jewish worship. (Bible Study Tools, “Who were the Samaritans”)
- In Acts 1, Yeshua gave out a commission to his disciples saying, “you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” Why such a clear distinction? Does Yeshua limit the outreach to just one set of people?
- Peter’s dream of unclean foods was for him to understand the gospel message would go beyond the tribes of Israel. How do we know this? All those in the 12 tribes would be considered clean. The tribes outside of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would be considered unclean.
- In Matthew 10, Yeshua tells his disciples to go to the Jews first. This, of course, is befitting since they are the generational promise—the inheritance of Isaac. But if we read the rest of the chapter, we see Yeshua warning his disciples of persecution from the very ones they are ministering to, meaning they would eventually have to give witness elsewhere.
- In Matthew 15, Jesus addresses customs such as washing hands as not making a man righteous. He even calls the Jewish leaders hypocrites for teaching doctrinal rules made by man. Shortly after, a non-Jewish woman comes to Yeshua asking for the “gift” of healing. He is stern and says “I was only sent to the house of Israel.” (Jer. 50:6 & Ez. 34:23-24) She bows and says, “help me.” Then she compares herself to a dog eating crumbs (a cultural belief from the Jewish leadership). It’s here Yeshua heals her. By doing so, is Yeshua giving a clear example of a “bigger tent?”
Consider the following two texts from the book of Romans
“. . . for though the twins (Esau & Jacob) were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls”, Romans 9:11
“What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? Far from it!15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I have mercy, and I will show compassion to whomever I show compassion.” 16 So then, it does not depend on the person who wants it nor the one who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:14-16
Yes, Yeshua’s genealogy found in Matthew 1 is from Judah, the Kingdom of David. So, it would only make sense for Yeshua to attend His roots first, giving the good news as spoken by the prophets. Though due to Messiah being a stumbling block (I Cor. 1:23) to His very own, the Kingdom at Hand is expanded to tribes outside of the tribes of Jacob. The “gifts” of the promise are distributed to all those who accept His mercy and healing.
“. . . does the potter not have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one object for honorable use, and another for common use? . . . [He has done so} to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy. . . namely us, whom He also called, not only from among Jews, but also from among Gentliles. . . as He also says in Hosea, I will call those who were not My people My people.” (Rom. (9:21-25)
Will the 12 tribes be regathered. Absolutely! We read of them in the book of Revelation, chapter seven. Hallelujah! This is an example of true redemption. Though at the same time, we must remember the great multitude who testify of their redemption as well. Praise the Lord for His Mighty Hand! In Revelation seven we read;
And I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel.
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all the tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; 10 and they *cried out with a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
No matter what tribe or nation you belong to, you have a choice. That choice is to give honor to the Mighty One and claim the mercy given to you from the Redeemer, Yeshua. What will you do?
Be blessed,
Rollyn