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Light The Way
When God said, “Let
there be light”, that began creation, as we know it. The distinction
was made between light and darkness when He “saw the light that it was
good; and God divided the light from the darkness.”
Light gives revelation
– knowledge of that which wasn’t seen or understood before. When God's Word
shines light on a subject we haven’t understood before, it cannot be
extinguished. We are blessed when we walk in it.
Why should one ever
desire the dark? Usually to cover up something, but “If I say, Surely the
darkness shall cover me, even the night shall be light about me” (Psalm
39:11).
Job asked a searching
question, “Where is the way where light dwells?” (38:19). Isaiah
said, “…let us walk in the light of the Lord” (2:5). There is a light
in every person on the face of the earth (John 1:9). What will bring it out
and cause it to shine? Caring love is the secret to a successful shine of
our personal light. Without God’s Love Laws, we are on the road of
self-destruction.
Scripture brims with
types, shadows, symbolism, signs. In chapter 4, the Prophet Zechariah has a
vision of a golden candlestick and two olive trees. From Psalm 19:10 we
learn that gold is symbolic of God’s Word. Trees represent people; in this
case the two houses of Israel. And oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit
anointing. The light that results from the combination is “on top” (v. 2) –
dispelling darkness.
People know us by what
we say – not only with our mouth, but also in our attitude and body
language. We are constantly in communication. What are we saying? Does it
bless or curse? Do our words and life style dispense light or darkness?
“More light from
heaven in 2007” was our motto for last year. Knowledge and understanding
of God’s Word and purposes in the world are increasing at a very rapid pace.
Through the Redeemer, some out of all nations have been drawn into the light
of the God of Israel – but because we are ignorant of, or have forsaken, our
Hebrew roots, we don’t know how to live our lives. Basic to living a
blessing-filled life is the knowledge of who we are!
The following contain
excerpts from the book, Judah You're Not Alone; I Am Joseph Your
Brother, a Scriptural exposition on the two kingdoms of Israel:
Judah and the Northern Tribes (made up primarily with the sons of Joseph &
often called “Ephraim”). The two divisions are also referred to as the two
houses, or two families of Israel.
Ever since the time of
Abraham, God’s plan of worldwide redemption and restoration has been
unfolding. God cut a contract with Abraham that is not only a foundational
covenant but is the framework for every covenant since that time, and all
are within the Everlasting Abrahamic Covenant. All were made with Abraham
and his seed. Understanding the Abrahamic Covenant upsets the apple cart of
replacement theology.
There is a mystery that
reverses the curse of darkness and heals the divide of the Two Houses of
Israel. It is beginning to unravel. Many are coming to see characteristics
of Ephraim – the northern kingdom of Israel – among Christians. The Book of
Hosea is very enlightening on this subject. Ephraim was scattered,
intermarried and assimilated with the nations of the world. Is this a
fulfillment of Jacob's dying blessing on Ephraim, i.e., that Ephraim would
“fill up the nations”? (Gen. 48:19)
In the meantime and in
our day while Ephraim is stumbling around in his return to God and His
Love-Laws-for-Living, WHERE IS JUDAH? He is the first to return to the Land
of Promise. Judah, for over 2,500 years, has been without a homeland,
without a government, without a flag and without recognition among the
nations of the world, yet the Jews have preserved the Hebrew Scriptures
meticulously. Here are only a few of the many prophecies, which point to
Judah (the “Jews”) leading the way back.
“The remnant that is
escaped of the House of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit
upward” (Isaiah 37:31).
[The Lord] “says to
Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited:’ and to the cities of Judah, ‘You shall
be built and I will raise up the decayed places thereof ’.” (Isaiah
44:26)
“For God will save
Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and
have it in possession” (Psalm 69:35).
And Psalm 78:67 & 68
are very interesting: “Moreover he refused the tabernacle of Joseph, and
chose not the tribe of Ephraim: But chose the tribe of Judah, the mount
Zion, which he loved.”
It is amazing that Arab
countries feel threatened by 5 million Jews and are not secure unless they
have Israel’s land.
Micah 4:8 calls Judah,
“O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto you
shall it come, [What’s he talking about? Read on:] even the first
dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.”
In contrast to Ephraim
(the northern kingdom) God did not “divorce” Judah. That same magnificent
Prophet Hosea makes this clear in chapter 1:7, “But I will have mercy on
the House of Judah and will save them by the LORD their God.”
And in 4:15, “Though
thou, Israel, play the harlot, yet let not Judah offend….” These show a
contrast between the Two Houses and confirm that He never “put away” Judah.
Though they have suffered defamation, most Jews have kept the faith, and
have not forgotten who they are.
Other prophets bear
witness to the fact that Judah returns first:
Joel 3:1, “…in those
days and in that time when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and
Jerusalem….” It doesn't mention the rest of the tribes in this passage.
It seems to be for our time that He is speaking mainly of Jerusalem and all
nations coming down to the valley of judgment, the purpose of which is,
V. 19, “For the
violence against the children of Judah because they have shed innocent blood
in their land.
V. 20, “But Judah
shall dwell for ever and Jerusalem from generation to generation.”
Micah 5:2 makes it
clear the Messiah comes from Judah. The Prophet Zechariah deals mainly with
Judah and Jerusalem:, “…the LORD of hosts has visited his flock the House
of Judah ….” (10:3b). Read on through the chapter, especially to see
both houses coming together.
The blood bath of the
Nazi Holocaust was upon Judah. The State of Israel was founded and
established by Judah. The Land has been reclaimed by Judah. After Judah’s
triumph in the Six-Day War (June 1967), many were heard to say, “I’m sorry
I'm not a Jew.”
By now, if you are a
Christian and maybe a good church member, you may feel like screaming at me,
“What about us?” Jesus said when talking to Judah (the only Israelites of
that day), “OTHER sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I
must bring and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and
one shepherd” (John 10:16). The ‘Ephraim seed’ among us responds to the
voice of the Shepherd of Israel – who returns us to the House of Israel and
is bringing about the fulfillment of all the promises to Abraham and to all
his seed. The “branches cut off” spoken of in Romans 11 cannot be talking
about Judah who kept identity, but Ephraim, who lost identity and became
lost sheep among the nations. Now those “natural branches” (dare we say
“natural genes”?) are being grafted in again through the Redeemer of Israel,
and "bringing their sheaves [others from the nations] with them.”
Some tough questions
“Ephraim” needs to ask himself:
• Why is our brother
Judah having such a rough time in the Land?
• Is it because Joseph
is not in his place?
• Is it coincidence
that Joseph’s tomb is at Shechem (in Ephraim) and has been desecrated and
vandalized? Significantly, Shechem was the first place to which Abraham came
in the land. Aliyah began with Abraham. Is the LORD getting the attention of
Joseph’s sons? After Joseph was born, Jacob returned to the Land. The return
today involves Joseph! And remember: it was the news, “Joseph is alive” that
inspired Jacob to join him in Egypt. The Abrahamic Covenant guarantees
Joseph(’s seed) is still alive, but we cannot join with Judah until we learn
to believe in him that he can teach and enlighten us.
Can this uniting be in
our day? If so, how? An important and initial step toward the Kingdom of God
on earth is when Judah recognizes Ephraim and Ephraim recognizes Judah – and
the envy and vexation cease! (Isaiah 11:13)
Is this happening now?
Can the two really walk together? If so – how? Where is the meeting ground?
Answer: The Word of the Lord, beginning with the Everlasting Abrahamic
Covenant and: “A new heart will I give you, and a new spirit will I put
within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). His word, enlightened by his spirit,
reveals the way to go.
The good news light
began in Genesis 12. The more we study the Everlasting Abrahamic Covenant,
the more convincing it is that it is the Cradle of Redemption. And the
Everlasting Abrahamic Covenant is not only the cradle of redemption, but
also the common denominator, the schoolroom where the 12 tribes sit in unity
(Psalm 133) – and more: also the strangers who chose to join with them.
There is need in both camps to lay aside the “teaching of commandments and
precepts of men” that replaces, and makes ineffectual, God’s Word. (Isaiah
29:13; Matt. 15:3-9)
This union is the
coming bright light – a complete and solid “lighthouse” on the rock. The
great daybreak of light will come as the glory of the Lord covers the world
as the waters cover the sea.
That Jesus and the
apostles understood this truth is set forth in the book. The light is so
bright we wonder how we could have missed it so long. But as Solomon said,
“There is a time…” Bible Light Publications is offering the book for a
suggested $10 donation, or any amount you can afford. PO Box 370, Ottawa, Ks
66067. - |
