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29 July 2010 | 18 Av 5770 | Ekev

Jacob's Return to the Land / January 2001


Jacob's Return to the Land
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One of the great truths from the Torah is the destiny of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Simply put, what has happened to the fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is the destiny of their descendants. These truths should be self-evident to any Bible student. It begins with God’s proclamation over Abraham, I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you. We know that this heritage is passed down to the descendants. It therefore follows that the promise of “in your seed will all the families of the earth be blessed” represents a spiritual destiny extended to many generations. Our New Covenant teachers have also rightly expressed that this destiny is found in the Messiah, and those who know Him have the heritage of the fathers. But more than blessing, promise, and heritage, actual events of the fathers form prophetic patterns for the descendants.

his should stir our souls in these last days. There is one event in the life of Jacob that carries a profound destiny for the last generation. It is on the scale of Moses, the Exodus, and Cecil B. DeMille's Ten Commandments. But before we address our spiritual destiny directly, let us lay the ground work for this great truth. How do events in the lives of the patriarchs form the prophetic pattern of the descendants?

Abram was foretold of the Exodus

Take the case of Abram. Abram made his way to Egypt shortly after entering the promised land for the first time. God prophesied that Abram's descendants would also go down to Egypt for a while. Then God would bring them back to the land He had promised to Abraham. Specifically, God told Abram about the Egyptian exodus well in advance of Jacob (his grandson) and his sons (great grandsons) trip to Egypt to live with Joseph.

And God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve; and afterward they will come out with many possessions. And as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. Then in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet complete.”
Genesis 15:13-16

Jacob was foretold of the Exodus

Later when Jacob was weighing the invitation of Joseph to live in the land of Egypt, God spoke directly to him by a vision.

And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, AJacob, Jacob. And he said, “Here I am.” And He said, “I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes.”
Genesis 46:2-4

Abraham's deception foreshadowed Joseph's deception

If you recall Abraham's first trip to Egypt, he was not that forthcoming concerning his wife Sarai. He told Pharaoh that she was his sister because he feared Pharaoh and the custom of the land concerning shepherds. Abraham's departure was not under the best of terms with Pharaoh after he learned who Sarai was. Later, when Jacob entered Egypt with his family, Joseph cautioned his brethren to explain to Pharaoh that they kept livestock instead of being shepherds.

And it shall come about when Pharaoh calls you and says, “What is your occupation?” that you shall say, “Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,” that you may live in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is loathsome to the Egyptians.
Genesis 46:33-34

We know that this slight difference in self representation provided for Jacob and his family to live in the best land of Egypt the land of Goshen. Four hundred plus years later, the sons of Israel left Pharaoh and Egypt in a less than enjoyable way for Pharaoh. We know that the exodus out of Egypt and the remainder of Torah tells the great story of Israel, the nation, being born out of slavery to be a free people. In both examples of Abram's trip to Egypt, representations of Abram found a reality in the actual events of the descendants many years later. This is one of the ways that God shows us His guidance and assurance as we walk with Him.

The Exodus foreshadows the last generation's trip into the kingdom

If you simplify the entire Torah (the five books of Moses), it is the story of one generation being delivered out of slavery and transformed into a nation of free men. The first book (Genesis) explains how they got into Egyptian slavery to begin with. The story of the Exodus is also the pattern of the last generation making their trip from Egypt (the present world) to the promised land (the kingdom of God). Just as Egypt (Mitzrayim) means “trials and tribulations,” so our world reflects the same trials and tribulations. As Israel had to journey through a great and terrible wilderness before crossing the Jordan into the promised land, the last generation will have to journey through a great and terrible tribulation before crossing the resurrection and rapture into the kingdom. Just as Israel had to face certain tests in the wilderness and be transformed from slaves to free men, so we will be transformed from mortal to immortal.

The Apostle Paul took note of the lessons in the wilderness and stated that the same lessons would confront us at the end of the ages, a reference to us and the last generation.

Now these things happened as examples for us, that we should not crave evil things, as they also craved. And do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play. Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day. Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents. Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.
I Corinthians 10:6-11

While Paul cites the general examples for all New Covenant believers, a closer examination of the exodus story yields ten specific tests that the last generation will face. Further, Moses concludes his final oratory in Deuteronomy with a message to the final generation. The last commandment given as a reminder for that generation is a particular holiday observance the feast of Tabernacles (a reminder of the exodus and the wilderness tests). While all this is fine for exhorting the brethren, there is still another event in the life of Jacob that is even more stirring with detail for the last generation.

Jacob's return to the land foreshadows our return to the land at the end of the age

So here are the implications of this great truth upon us, the last generation. The return to the promised land for Jacob with his wives and children is the prophetic pattern of our return to the land at the end of the age with the Messiah. Jacob's departure from Laban with Leah, Rachel, their handmaids, and the children, then facing Esau, is the pattern for our own return to the promised land at the end of the age.

You and I share a common destiny as members of the last generation. We will see the return of the Messiah and we will return to the land of Israel. In fact, it is Jerusalem where we will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) with Him (Zec 14:16). The manner and way that Jacob returned to the land of his fathers with his wives and children is the pattern that we will knowingly or unknowingly follow. It is our destiny.

Jacob had served Laban, his uncle, for twenty years. He had received his two wives and two handmaids with their resulting children. Jacob's stay with Laban had been less than wonderful. Jacob had been cheated and swindled 10 times. (Remember the 10 tests in the wilderness, I mentioned?) Now was the time for Jacob to return to the land of his fathers and to be free of Laban. God had promised that He would feed and clothe Jacob while away; He had also promised to bring him back to the land and prosper him with the number of his descendants increasing to the number of stars in the sky. God did preserve Jacob and feed him. He also gave him a family with many sons. However, there was one rather severe problem in this wonderful promise from God. Jacob's brother, Esau, was waiting to kill Jacob for stealing his birthright and blessing. I say, stealing because this is what Esau was using for justification.

Jacob's life literally hung in the balance at the moment of his return. We all know that God was faithful to His promise and that Esau's heart was turned away from wrath. Since 1948, modern Israel has been dealing with the problem of returning to the land promised to the fathers. While the promises of God are clear about Israel's return from the nations they were scattered into, the struggle in the land is faced with violence and the threat of uncertainty because of other inhabitants (Esau and Edom). Just like Jacob's return, modern Israel and the people of Israel in the other nations await the surety of safety and the Messiah's kingdom. However, Jacob was also acting on the promises of God concerning the land and his future blessing. In the same manner, this generation has many Jews holding on to the promises of God for a spiritual return (more than a physical return) to the land. This is actually a return to the land with the Messiah.

The modern Messianic Movement is the spiritual return to the land

The modern Messianic Movement (the spiritual return of Israel) is this destiny. Jacob's return to the land is the pattern for the Messianic Movement's efforts in these last days. Let's examine Jacob's plan for his return to the land and see the prophetic pattern confronting us today, both in the physical and the spiritual.

Jacob first sent messengers to Esau announcing his soon return. In similar manner, we have the announcements made by God's prophets speaking of our eventual return to the land. And like the pattern of Jacob, the word has come back to us of future trouble. In our case, we call it Jacob's Trouble the great tribulation. We know that before we are fully in the kingdom and in the land, we will have to deal with the tribulation, a time of distress as the world has never seen before. The very thought causes some Christians to seek a way to escape. It is very possible that Jacob may have thought and asked, ALord, can't you just zap everything right and put me in the land? We know that it doesn't work that way; we know that going through the tribulation is a greater picture of God's deliverance than just being zapped into the promised land. Therefore, we know the pretribulation resurrection and rapture are misplaced hopes. The real deliverance is by God's outstretched hand so that even His enemies learn to know the Lord. The reality of our day is no less disturbing than the message back to Jacob about his enemies and their intent.

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”
Genesis 32:6-8

We can already see how this plan was put into place a long time ago. Just as Jacob divided his house into two companies for its protection, so the God of Israel did the same with our ancestors. The House of Israel and the House of Judah were the division of Israel by God for our protection while scattered in the nations. God knew that Israel would eventually be cast out of the land and into the hands of our enemies for unbelief and disobedience. Therefore, he sent Israel (the ten northern tribes headed by Ephraim) into captivity first around 700 B.C. Then in 70 A.D., Judah was sent into captivity by the Romans. To this day, these two houses exist in a dispersed form in virtually every nation of the world. Let us examine Jacob's two camps (the two house of Israel) a little further.

The two camps of Jacob are the House of Judah and Israel

It is somewhat apparent where the House of Judah (the Jews) are, but it is a little more difficult to identify the House of Israel. Some have argued that there is no more two houses divided. Some say that Israel (Ephraim) returned to Judah in the days following the Babylonian captivity and both houses were present when Yeshua came to minister. However, Yeshua specifically spoke of His mission to the “lost sheep” of the House of Israel. This is why he ministered first in the Galilee. The land of Zebulon and Naphtali was a part of the House of Israel.

And leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – The people who were sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those who were sitting in the land and shadow of death, upon them a light dawned.”
Matthew 4:13-16

Yeshua and the New Testament refer to the Jews in Jerusalem as something separate. They are different; they are the House of Judah. Even the Apostle James, after Yeshua's ministry, addressed his letter to the “twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad.” Still further, the final seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3 distinguish between the “sons of Israel” and “those who say they are Jews.” Both the sons of Israel and the Jews in those letters are members of the New Covenant. The two camps of Jacob still existed in the New Testament period and have never been joined together since, except in this last generation through the Messianic movement.

Suffice it to say that the reason God divided Israel into the two houses was for our protection when we would be scattered in the hands of our enemies. Jacob's logic in this defense is the same logic in God's action. “If the enemy attacks the one, the other which is left will escape.”

The Messianic Movement and the two house issue

Before we go further, maybe we should address how the Messianic Movement is wrestling with the two house issue. We should add that we are wrestling with it just like Jacob did with the Lord. On the one hand, those who assert Ephraim (the House of Israel) are supported by history and the prophetic promises of the Bible. The message is clear: the stick of Ephraim will be joined to the stick of Judah and the two shall become one in the hand of the Lord. The prophet Ezekiel speaks specifically to a time when the two camps of Jacob, the Houses of Judah and Israel, will be joined back into one house as the whole House of Israel.

And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, “For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions;” then take another stick and write on it, “For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.” Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. And when the sons of your people speak to you saying, “Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?” say to them, “Thus says the Lord God, ‘Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.’”
Ezekiel 37:16-19

Again, some have argued that this prophecy already occurred. I disagree. This prophecy goes on to say that all Israel knows the King and are in the land together B two houses and the King. This has not happened. But elements of this reunification are beginning to happen in our generation for the first time. Some other well meaning Christians have tried to lay claim to these prophecies for their own self identification. We have already seen British-Israelism, the Mormons, the World Wide Church of God, and the Jehovah's Witnesses try to proclaim themselves as the lost tribes of Israel. Self witness is not truth according to Torah.

Some brethren within the Messianic Movement also think that holding to a few Jewish customs like Sabbath and Holidays is their ticket to claiming Ephraim. Joining to the House of Judah is part of the process but that does not qualify non-Jews to be Ephraimites. Some have asserted that believing Jews are the House of Judah and the church is Ephraim. They would like to lay claim to evangelical Christianity and give them an artificial citizenship. But where do the Gentiles fit into this definition? Who is Judah; who is Israel, and who is Gentile?

Will the real Ephraim please stand up

If Ephraim is really Ephraim, then Ephraim must be distinguished separately from Judah and the Gentiles. Ephraim must stand up and be Ephraim before Ephraim can join Judah and truly be reunited. By that I mean the following. Ephraim must directly identify with the fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Ephraim must return to the God of our fathers and show his faithfulness to the Torah. As Ezekiel has said, when Ephraim returns then he will cease from the idols of the nation, he will cease to transgress God's commandments, and he will cease from the detestable. In simple terms, that means leaving the customs of the nation, not just keeping the Passover through Sukkot. He must learn and keep Torah, especially the commandments for the sons of Israel. And finally, he must keep that which is “clean and proper (kosher).” These must all be done in the context of joining with the House of Judah. It is not Judah that joins Ephraim; it is Ephraim that joins Judah. And more than all this is the evidence of God's Spirit. This must be the move of God's Spirit not a move of men and their interests.

The Messianic Movement today

Let's look at the Messianic Movement today. I am speaking of all the brethren involved. We are not all Messianic Jews. There are more non-Jews than Jews in this movement. We all bear a similar testimony giving full attribution to the Spirit of God for our presence. Ezekiel said that this would be the move of God's Spirit. That is good, but are we not all in agreement about separating ourselves from the world's idols. While many of the non-Jews (claiming to be Ephraim returned) keep some Biblical holidays, they have not yet given up on keeping Christmas and Easter. They are simply mixing them. For many, keeping Sabbath and the other commandments are mostly following the crowd and the accepted custom of the messianic fellowship groups. Where is the personal conviction to assert truth and righteousness? Most of Ephraim is only now addressing the Torah for the first time. What about the issue of kosher… maybe we should let that lay where it is without saying much, huh? This is the non-Jewish side of the Messianic Movement. If Ephraim is being joined to the House of Judah, then they have much to learn and adjust. Let's look at the Judah side now.

There are several organizations on the national and international scale attempting to bring clarity and leadership to the Messianic Movement. These include but are not limited to the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America (MJAA) and the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC). There are other organizations but these are predominant in terms of size and visibility. Both of these organizations are led by brethren with a Jewish testimony (the House of Judah). They are also struggling with the idea that there is a House of Israel apart from the House of Judah. Their struggle is somewhat understandable as they are responding to such books as “Who is Israel” by Bayta Wooten. Messianic Jewish leaders have taken issue with how the Wooten's message of the two houses is overstated and defended in an abrasive manner. To my Jewish brethren's credit, they have rejected the wholesale idea of the House of Israel as the evangelical church. But to their chagrin, they have also denied the birthright of the true Ephraimites within the New Covenant church.

The day is coming when Messianic Jewish leaders will bow on this point and give testimony to God's great love of Ephraim. Yeshua said it directly as one of His last messages to us. However, in this present day, both of these organizations and many Messianic Jews are doing everything they can to teach the opposite of Ezekiel's prophecies. They also are not aware of the prophetic pattern in Jacob's return to the land. Instead, one former president of the Union fears that too many gentile types or Ephraimites in Messianic congregations will dilute the Jews. In my opinion, Messianic Jews who harbor such thoughts toward Gentiles or possible Ephramities are exhibiting racial bigotry. Every brother in the Messianic Movement ought to vomit every word and thought out of that nonsense out. Instead, we should pursue the ministry of the Messiah to seek the lost sheep of the House of Israel. We should see that every family receives the blessing promised through our father Abraham, especially those by faith.

On the Ephraimite side, there are some leaders who are wrapped up in their personal egos and agendas. They have behave as though the two house teaching is their proprietary property, and no one else can teach or understand it as well as they do. To their own embarrassment, they don't understand the pattern of Jacob's two camps themselves, nor how to implement the next step B how Jacob reunified the two camps after facing down his enemies.

Isn't God good? Despite the worst efforts of our believing brethren (both Judah and Ephraim), the Spirit of God continues to go forward in fulfilling His word. This is clearly illustrated by the events of our fathers again. Remember the animosity of the brethren toward Joseph? Remember how they came against him, even casting him into a pit and selling him? These are the same men who are the fathers of the sons of Israel today. Our disdain for Joseph (the House of Israel) is reminiscent of days gone by. It is rooted in a disdain for our Messiah. It reflects our ancient nature and how we are subject to our destiny.

Jacob's prayer a model for us in preparing for Jacob's trouble

Let's look again to Jacob's return to the land and glean even more example for our destiny. Listen to Jacob's prayer as he reviews God's promises and addresses his own fears of the enemy.

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who didst say to me, Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you, I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which Thou hast shown to Thy servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me, the mothers with the children. For Thou didst say, I will surely prosper you, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
Genesis 32:9-12

The leaders of the Messianic Movement (Judah and Ephraim) need to examine this prayer in some detail. We have a promise of a returning Messiah and His kingdom. We have a future part in that return and it involves our joint return to the land. We are unworthy of God's mercy and grace. We have not kept the covenant God made with our fathers and us. God has kept His part and our part as well. When our ancestors left the land of Israel in the two dispersals, we left with nothing. Now, this generation is in much greater number and we can be found in all nations. Our return to the land will be a much greater exodus than that out of Egypt. And as God led our ancestors out of Egypt, He will lead us out of the nations so that all men will know that He is the Lord. Part of the return to the land is to acknowledge that we are two houses so the Lord can make us one in His hand. That means that Messianic Jewish leaders must acknowledge and accept Ephraim and stop with their treachery. That means that Ephraimites must be joined with and receive instruction from Judah to cease from their unfaithfulness. That means there must be a new day dawning in the way we think of ourselves. We need to have the heart of our father Jacob just as he prayed in this matter.

The dawning of the day

I would like to borrow from a traditional teaching of when the day dawns. Two students and a teacher were discussing exactly when the day dawns. One said, “When you can tell the difference between a fig tree and an olive tree, that is the dawning of the day.” The other countered, “When you can tell the difference between a man and woman, that is the dawning of the day.” The teacher was finally asked to settle the dispute. “When you can't see any difference in a Jew and Gentile, that is the dawning of the day.” I believe that for us in the Messianic Movement, our day will not dawn until we can't see the difference in Judah and Ephraim, when we can only see the whole House of Israel. As Paul said, “Thus all Israel shall be saved!”

Once Jacob sent his flocks and family across the Jordan, Jacob then had to wrestle with God. This wrestling match resulted in a blessing and name change. Jacob became Israel. I believe that when the Messianic Movement ceases to wrestle with the two house teaching and the Lord's promises of reunification, we will have a blessing and a new name as well. We will be called The Whole House of Israel.

Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. And when he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” And he said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.
Genesis 32:24-32

Our great wrestling match

The great wrestling match of the past two thousand years has been with a particular man from Nazareth. It has been with a man whose name means “Salvation. It has lasted all night long but now the dawning of the day has come. It is time that we find out who we really are and fulfill our destiny. It is time for Jacob to ask for the blessing of the Messiah and to learn the Messiah's name.

As Israel (Jacob) met his enemy Esau, note the procession of his family and who is listed as last.

Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. And he put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
Genesis 33:1-2

Joseph was last. Joseph of course is the brother who was to be rejected by his brethren, sold, and cast away with disregard. Yeshua was rejected by His brethren, sold, and cast away with disregard. Later, Joseph was raised to a position of great authority and stood over his brethren. Joseph said that God had sent him to be a preservation (salvation) of life for them.

Yeshua has also been raised up to be the Kings of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He too, was sent before us to be a preservation of life. Joseph was called the “bread man of life.” Yeshua is the true bread from heaven. The last part of our return to the land includes coming to terms with Yeshua Ben Yoseph (Yeshua, son of Joseph). Joseph was also the father of Ephraim, the leader of the House of Israel. Therefore, our return to the land with the Messiah is not complete until the House of Israel (Joseph) returns with us.

Jacob's first camping location with all his family in the land

As a final note of comparison with Jacob's return to the land, examine where Jacob first camped in the land.

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth; and built for himself a house, and made booths for his livestock, therefore the place is named Succoth.
Genesis 33:17

This is the key of the reunification of Judah and Ephraim. It is a simple holiday called the feast of ingathering. It is more than a Biblical holiday reminding us of the Exodus. It is more than a prophetic picture of us in the kingdom at Jerusalem. It is the very mechanism of fellowship where believing brethren of differing backgrounds can sing, dance, and dwell with one another. It is a place where the Lord walks through the camp with us and makes His tabernacle with us.

A challenge for us all

I challenge you and my other Messianic brethren to reconsider our great destiny given to us by our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If we are their sons, then let us do the works of our fathers and fulfill the destiny we have in our Heavenly Father. Let us prepare to return to the land according to the plan of Jacob. And when Jacob's trouble comes, let us prevail even if we have to limp a little (the aftermath of Jacob's wrestling match). Let us include all of the sons of Jacob including Joseph. Finally, let us assemble at the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) and submit ourselves together as the servants of Yeshua Ben Joseph Yeshua HaMeshiach.

The Messianic Movement is a move of God's Spirit in these last days. It is the purpose of God to bring back the remnant of Israel from all the nations in the form of a greater exodus than Egypt; thus, “all Israel shall be saved” at the end of the age. Let us all fulfill our destiny in this great return, whether we are of Judah, Ephraim or of the nations. Let us strive for the day when we only see one another as brethren in the kingdom.

Monte

YAVOH - He is Coming is a monthly newsletter published as an outreach ministry of Lion and Lamb Ministries.
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