I woke up this morning still thinking about Caleb. Caleb, being a descendant of Esau, not Jacob, did not receive the inheritance as a member of any of the tribes of Israel. His inheritance was given to him individually, yet in the same land. Remember that not every tribe of Israel crossed the Jordan, yet Caleb did.
This reminds me of Romans 11 where Paul says that natural branches were broken off so that un-natural branches could be grafted in. The fact that some of the tribes didn't enter into the land to receive their part on that side of the Jordan, yet Caleb, not a native born Israelite, did enter and received an inheritance of his own seems to be a picture of this. My point is that Caleb was not folded into an existing tribe to inherit the land as a part of them. He received the promise as an individual, grafted into Messiah by faith, AMONG Israel. Both Israelites and Gentiles received the promise together, yet ethnic identity was not changed. Caleb was blessed, being a gentile, just as YHWH promised Abraham that he would be a blessing to many nations. Caleb had the faith of Abraham. Yes he was a natural descendant of Abraham but he didn't follow the seed line through Jacob, being of the line of one of the patriarchs. It's something to consider here on this first day of the week as we get back to work, looking forward to the next glorious Sabbath of the LORD.
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Tithing In The Scriptures
3 days ago
6 comments:
Greetings Banner - as always I appreciate the forum. I'm a little confused though... I'm not sure why you say that Caleb didn't identify with the tribe of Judah....??
Andre, good to hear from you as usual. I'm working through some things as I continue to study HIS Word. I want to understand the people of Yahweh. Who are they? Are they only Israelites and those who join themselves to Israel? So far I can't see that. I see the Israel of God and those of other nations who likewise join themselves to the LORD (Isaiah 56). I don't want to cry out against HIS people because I can't always tell who they are, whether they are of Israel or other nations. One thing I see though is that HIS people have always been taken out of Adam, HIS creation from the beginning. And HE does the same today. Israel was the name given to Jacob when he surrendered to the LORDSHIP of Yahweh. Only those of the nation Israel who surrender in like manner, having the same faith as Abraham, are then the Israel of God. Gentiles are not grafted into Israel, but they are grafted into Messiah, from what I can see. As for Caleb identifying with Judah, I believe he was probably a proselyte. But that doesn't change the fact that he was a descendant of Esau who inherited a portion of the land for himself. His nephew, Othniel became the first judge of Israel, he likewise a descendant of Esau. The only two of adult age to enter the promised land were Joshua, an Israelite, and Caleb of Edomite descendancy. They were two faithful witnesses. I believe I, and maybe many have vilified all descendants of Esau, Ishmael, and otherwise. They could join themselves to Yahweh just as an Israelite could. An Israelite had to be born again just like a Gentile. I also repent of lumping all Israel into a rebellious camp, not discerning the remnant that HE has reserved to HIMSELF by grace. I've got a lot to learn brother and I keep striving. I'm not willing to settle for anything less than the whole counsel. I still don't have it. Join me as we dive deeper into HIS Word to know HIM and HIS people for who they are and HE is. Blessings.... -bk
Banner - the funny thing is that I was talking with my mother the other day and we both were saying -the more we learn is the more we realize we understand less than we thought we did. While you and I may disagree on certain aspects - we certainly agree that the Torah is the standard by which ALL people will be judged. Just in regarding to what you were talking about - Joshua and Caleb were both given their own inheritance because of their faithfulness. According to Numbers 13 - Caleb represented Judah and Joshua represented Ephraim. How Caleb became part of Judah I don't know...but I certainly agree that bloodline had nothing to do with being able to inherit in the kindgom of God - but faith (which was shown by obedience). Well we know for certain that there were mixed multitudes that came up out of Egypt with Israel and the Torah makes clear that there should be the same Torah for them (strangers in your gates). Outsiders have always been there. None of Moses children were poor-blood Israelites. In fact - Jethro the Midianite/Kenite was used by God to impart the wisdom to Moses that he should appoint 70 elders to judge the people. By the time of the Judges (1:16) we see Jethros descendants going up WITH the tribe of Judah to Jericho. When we read the testimony of scripture we see that God was not "mean" to other groups of people...it just had to do with God's choice of how to administer His Word in the earth. In John 4 Yeshua tells the Samaritan - "we know what we worship...salvation is of the Jews" - He didn't exclude anyone. All he did was to explain to her that the Samaritans were not who the Messiah was to come through. She became a believer and so did many in her town - so Him telling her that never excluded the Samaritans (who were mixed Israelites with other nations after the Assyrian exile). There is much to say and we all have to learn. Agreed - that we should all pray for each other...
Amen Brother Andre. You are pretty much where I'm at with this, for what I can tell. Bless you and may the Ruach continue to give you revelation.
Thanks for the prayers. In touching the different people groups - I realize there has been a lot of hurt - bitterness - and resentment across all sides and all people throughout the centuries. No one wants to feel inferior or "left out". Case in point from a biblical view - when we read Dueteronomy chapter 2 we see God recount that Esau(Edom) was given Mt. Seir for it's own inheritance. We even see that "righteous Lot" (as Peter called him) being represented as the "dreaded" Ammonites and Moabites were given an inheritance by God because they descended from Lot. He told the children of Israel not to disturb any of those three groups. God has infinite wisdom that we don't. Why did he allow the covenant to come through "lying Jacob" and not Esau the son that Isaac loved?? We don't know for sure - but the writer of Hebrews said that Esau was profane for selling his birthright for some soup. In my eyes - I think the one who cheated was the one to be punished...but God is more wise than me. Ishmael's situation is something I always pray about. People always talk of the "curse of Ishmael". The thing is that scripture doesn't really say as such - but on the contrary God promised Abraham and Hagar to BLESS Ishmael - even though he had to leave(Genesis 21). In Genesis 25 scripture recounts that Abraham had many more children after Sarah died and that he gave them all "gifts" but told them they couldn't stay in Isaac's vicinity. Isaac was the chosen one. That chapter also recounts that Isaac and Ishmael united to bury their father and it details the fulfillment of the promise that Ishmael would produce many children and prosper and dwell opposite his brothers. Even the word "wild man" is better translated "wild ass". In ancient days a wild ass was not a derogatory term at all. It all had to do with where he would live. Persons took it out of context and now we have all this controversy of "whether the sons of Ishmael are destined to doom?". I know this is a long rant - but it is something that touched in my spirit.
Amen brother. As people we want to place ourselves either in one camp or the other when all along the camp of the LORD is where we need to be. As for Jacob. We are taking a closer look at that right now. A brother in a Torah observant fellowship in Valparaiso, Indiana will be with us at our gathering tomorrow night to show us what he believes Yah is showing him about Jacob and now we've misunderstood him. He says that Jacob was not a deceiver and that it is the testimony of a liar, who sold his birthright, that we read that Jacob is a deceiver. I'm open to what the brother has to say. I think he's on to something. Bless you and Shabbat Shalom!
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