Who Is Israel

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Who Are the People of God?

Who Are the People of God?

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Our English word “church” is used for the concept that people from every tribe and nation (ie. Gentiles) have been “called out” of darkness by faith in Jesus Christ and “made fellow citizens with God’s people” (Israel). In the New Testament, the Greek word ecclesia is commonly translated “church.” Ecclesia means “called-out ones.”

Although salvation was originally offered to Abraham’s seed, God extended that invitation to all who would believe. During the book of Acts, we see that God’s call was specifically extended to the Gentile nations.

Peter said,

7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;

9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)

James said,

13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:

14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,

16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:

17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.

18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:13-18, quoting Amos 9:11-12)

Contrary to what dispensationalism teaches, the Bible makes it clear that Israel and the church are not two distinct peoples.

Nor has the church replaced Israel is God’s plan, as covenant theology teaches. Israel as a people have not been set aside by God.

Rather, the called-out ones from the Gentile nations have been offered the gospel through Jesus and have been grafted into His people, Israel.

If this were the case, the Bible’s description of only one people of God would still apply.

In addition, the literal promises to Israel of a land and future King would still apply.

Of course, the commands and promises made to Israel would also then apply to us today. Most Christians already claim the promises made to Israel. However, claiming Israel’s commands makes most Christians uncomfortable.

If Israel’s commands apply to us today, we need to make some lifestyle changes. This is why it is essential that we determine if God has one people or two.

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God’s Plan for Israel

God’s Plan for Israel

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Let’s first look at what the Bible has to say about Israel.

God’s plan was that Israel would become a “multitude” of peoples, meaning that a multitude of ethnic groups would seek to join themselves to the community of Israelites.

Now YHVH had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)

And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people. (Genesis 28:3)

Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. (Genesis 48:4)

God gave Israel a literal piece of land, real estate that would be their inheritance forever.

Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. (Genesis 48:4)

Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people (Leviticus 20:24)

Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 26:15)

While Israel became recognized by the United Nations as a nation again in 1949, certainly not all Israelites are living in the land God gave them, nor are their boundaries as large as what God promised to them (see Numbers 34:1-12).

While this is certainly a start to a return to the land, Scripture promises that the return will be complete.

33 When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:

34 Then hear thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of thy people Israel, and bring them again unto the land which thou gavest unto their fathers. (1 Kings 8:33-34)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This verse cannot be a reference to the United States or any other nation except for Israel, or else Scripture is not true. This is not a verse that Christians can claim, if Israel and the church are distinct.

8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations:

9 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. (Nehemiah 1:8-10)

Even though Israel has been exiled and scattered to the farthest horizon, God still looks on them as his people.

14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

15 And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith YHVH thy God. (Amos 9:14-15)

Therefore as I live, saith YHVH of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them. (Zephaniah 2:9)

7 Thus saith YHVH of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;

8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness. (Zechariah 8:7-8)

Verses for Further Study:

(hover over reference to read verse)

  • Psalm 135:12
  • Isaiah 49:8-9
  • Isaiah 60:21
  • Jeremiah 30:3
  • Jeremiah 32:37-38
  • Isaiah 50:6
  • Ezekiel 11:17
  • Ezekiel 28:25
  • Ezekiel 34:13
  • Ezekiel 36:12
  • Ezekiel 36:28
  • Ezekiel 45:8
  • Hosea 1:9-11

Review

So Ephesians says that God has only one people.

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. (Ephesians 3:6)

Scriptures also clearly teach that only Israel is God’s people.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5-6)

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Who Is Israel? Who Are the Jews?

Who Is Israel? Who Are the Jews?

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Many people think of “Israel” and the “Jews” as being the same group of people, but in reality, the Jews are just a small segment of the larger group of people God called Israel.

Who is Israel?

Jacob was the son of Abraham whose name was changed by God to “Israel,” which means “prince of God.” He had twelve sons.

Who is Judah?

Judah was one of the sons of Israel, and his descendants became known as the tribe of Judah.

Judah is also a name collectively given to two southern tribes of Israel (Judah and Benjamin, as well as some of the tribe of Levi). These tribes were carried away to Babylon in 586 B.C., then restored back to their land 70 years later, only to be dispersed throughout the world after the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70. They are known as “Jews.”

It was from the tribe of Judah, or from the “Jews,” that God promised a ruler would come, whom all nations would obey. King David was from the tribe of Judah, and the prophets announced that the Messiah would come from David’s kingly line.

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. (Genesis 49:10)

And David [from the tribe of Judah] perceived that YHVH had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake. (2 Samuel 5:12)

He also exalteth the horn [a ruler] of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. (Psalm 148:14)

10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that YHVH shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea…

16 And there shall be an highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt. (Isaiah 11:10-11, 16)

The New Testament records that Jesus was the Messiah that the prophets foretold.

And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. (Matthew 2:6)

68 Blessed be YHVH God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. (Luke 1:68-75)

Paul tells us that the Messiah would reign not only over Judah and Israel, but over all the nations of the world.

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ [Christ is the Greek translation of Messiah] was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.

10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.

11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.  (Romans 15:8-12)

So as we read the Bible, we need to be careful to note when Scripture says “Judah” or “Jews,” and realize that this is not always referring to the entire nation of Israel.

Who is Ephraim?

Israel (Jacob) blessed Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, before his death. Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph, predicted to become greater than his older brother Manasseh. His descendants would become a multitude of nations.

[Manasseh] also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations (Genesis 48:19, speaking of Ephraim and Manasseh).

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. (Deuteronomy 33:17)

Ephraim is often another name for the ten northern tribes of Israel, which were dispersed throughout the world because of their disobedience and idolatry. The prophets often referred to as “Israel” or “Ephraim” interchangeably.

For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people. (Isaiah 7:8)

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. (Hosea 7:8)

Isaiah said that Ephraim would be broken, that it would not be a people, and that it would be mixed among the people.

The people of the ten northern tribes of Israel mingled so much with the Gentile nations around them, gradually intermarrying and scattering further abroad, that in a short time, no one could distinguish them from the nations. It was as if they were no longer God’s people. They were, for all intents and purposes, Gentiles.

Note what God said, however, through the prophet Hosea.

9 Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.

10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel. (Hosea 1:9-11)

This adds a lot of meaning to what Jesus said.

I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Matthew 15:24)

And Jesus said unto [Zaccheus], This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:9-10)

12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:12-14)

At the time of Jesus, very few of the people of the northern tribes had returned to Israel. Most were scattered among the Gentiles, seemingly lost. However, all twelve tribes of Israel — not just Judah (Jews) — were very precious to God. Even though they had sinned, the Messiah said that He came to rescue and redeem them.

And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God (Ezekiel 37:22-23).

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Who Else Is Israel?

Who Else Is Israel?

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A little-known fact about the Israelite’s exodus from Egypt is that many Egyptians went with them.

37 And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.

38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle. (Exodus 12:37-38)

A few verses after this record, we read God’s requirements for the annual remembrance of Passover.

43 And YHVH said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:

44 But every man’s servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.

45 A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.

46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.

47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to YHVH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.

49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (Exodus 12:43-49)

The Egyptians who wanted to celebrate the Lord’s Passover alongside the native-born Israelites could do so as long as they underwent circumcision.

Other rules in Israel applied to both native-born Israelites and aliens alike.

Neither could eat blood.

10 And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. (Leviticus 17:10)

They could not eat meat that had not been slaughtered appropriately.

13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust.

14 For it is the life of all flesh; the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off.

15 And every soul that eateth that which died of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean.

16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh; then he shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 17:13-16)

They were not to worship the god Molech.

2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.

3 And I will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name.

4 And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not:

5 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him, to commit whoredom with Molech, from among their people. (Leviticus 20:2-5)

They were not to bring defective offerings.

18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt offering;

19 Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats.

20 But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. (Leviticus 22:18-20)

They were not to curse God.

15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin.

16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. (Leviticus 24:15-16)

In fact,

Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God (Leviticus 24:22).

One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. (Numbers 15:15)

Paul says that Gentiles who believe in Jesus the Messiah become fellow citizens with God’s people.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11-13)

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19).

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How to Become Part of Israel

How to Become Part of Israel

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In the book of Acts, we see Gentile believers confessing faith in Jesus for salvation. Cornelius was the first. Peter explained to him the way of salvation and finished his explanation by saying, “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:44-48)

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul verifies that the evidence of the Spirit’s work among the Gentiles was proof that they truly believed in Jesus the Messiah.

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:5)

However, some of the Jewish believers felt that the Gentiles needed to show more proof of their genuine conversion.

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1)

It probably started with the matter of eating together. Jews were careful to observe the dietary laws given by God in Leviticus 11, so they would have been very cautious about eating with someone who might bring unclean food to the meal. By the first century, oral traditions had been added as fences to God’s commands, resulting in even more reasons why observant Jews would not be allowed to eat a meal with a Gentile. In fact, as Acts 15:1 shows, some of the Jewish believers were teaching that Gentile believers had to be circumcised according to the “manner” of Moses, a reference to the oral traditions, not to God’s commands.

In Acts 15, the apostles and elders determined that the way Gentile believers could join in fellowship with other Israelites was the same way God had provided for the Egyptians to join with Israel in worship of God.

As we’ve seen, the following rules applied to Israelites and non-Israelites alike:

  • They were not to eat blood.
  • They were not to eat meat that had been slaughtered incorrectly.
  • They were to abstain from sexual fornication.
  • They were not to worship false gods.
  • And in time, they were to have the same laws and rules.

The apostles determined the following:

But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood (Acts 15:20).

Do you see that these were the same instructions given in Leviticus?

Moreover, Leviticus 24:16 says,

 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am YHVH your God.

Christianity has always taught that Christians are not obligated to keep the laws given by God through Moses to the nation of Israel. Notice, however, what the apostles said in Acts 15:21.

For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

It seems obvious that the apostles expected:

  • New believers would attend synagogue every Sabbath day.
  • New believers would hear “Moses” (a reference to the Torah, or the Law of Moses) being read every Sabbath day.
  • Moses would be “preached” or explained to them.
  • This was done in every city, just as it had been done from the earliest times.

It is very clear that salvation was not given because of observance of God’s laws.

And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved (Acts 15:1).

In order to fellowship with other members of Israel, who met in the synagogues each Sabbath, the Gentiles only had to begin with four basic requirements.

However, it was expected that the new Gentile believers would continue meeting on the Sabbath and would continue to hear the reading of the law and be taught what it meant.

You will see that this agrees with the commission Jesus gave to his disciples:

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

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Special characteristics of Israel

Special characteristics of Israel

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On this page, let’s take a look at many Scripture verses that tell us about Israel, keeping in mind what we’ve already learned:

  1. Israel includes all twelve tribes, not just “Jews” (those from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, the southern kingdom of Israel).
  2. Israel also includes any Gentiles who have been grafted into the nation of Israel through Jesus Christ.

I recommend that you print this page, and then read each verse from your own Bible. You might want to mark these verses in your Bible. There is a print button at the bottom of the article.

They are the people of God.

Note that these are literal descendants of Israel, yet believers in Jesus from all nations are included in the designation, “people of God.”

Exodus 6:7 – And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God: and ye shall know that I am YHVH your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Exodus 15:16 – Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O YHVH, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased.

Exodus 33:13, 16 – Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people… For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

Leviticus 26:12 – And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

Deut. 9:29 – Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.

Deut. 26:18-19 – And YHVH hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto YHVH thy God, as he hath spoken.

Deut. 27:9 – And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of YHVH thy God.

Deut. 29:13 – That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

1 Sam. 12:22 – For YHVH will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased YHVH to make you his people.

2 Sam. 5:12 – And David perceived that YHVH had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.

2 Sam. 7:23-24 – And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, YHVH, art become their God.

1 Kings 8:51-53 – For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee. For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O YHVH God.

1 Chron. 17:21-22 – And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, YHVH, becamest their God.

Nehemiah 1:8 – Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

Psalm 95:7 – For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

Psalm 148:14 – He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye YHVH.

Isaiah 40:1 – Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Isaiah 43:20-21 – The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Isaiah 52:9 – Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for YHVH hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

Jeremiah 13:11 – For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith YHVH; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

Jeremiah 24:7 – And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am YHVH: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.

Ezekiel 11:20 – That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 14:11 – That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith YHVH God.

Ezekiel 34:30-31 – Thus shall they know that I YHVH their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith YHVH God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith YHVH God.

Ezekiel 36:12 – Yea, I will cause men to walk upon you, even my people Israel; and they shall possess thee, and thou shalt be their inheritance, and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men.

Ezekiel 36:28 – And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

Ezekiel 37:22-23 – And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 37:26-28 – Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I YHVH do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Ezekiel 39:7-8 – So will I make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel; and I will not let them pollute my holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am YHVH, the Holy One in Israel. Behold, it is come, and it is done, saith YHVH God; this is the day whereof I have spoken.

Daniel 9:19 – O YHVH, hear; O YHVH, forgive; O YHVH, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

Hosea 2:23 – And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

Zechariah 8:7-8 – Thus saith YHVH of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness

Zechariah 13:9 – And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, YHVH is my God.

It is very clear that the people of God are Israel. However, the New Testament makes it clear that both Jews and Gentiles are included in the people of God.

Romans 9:23-26 – And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 – And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith YHVH, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith YHVH Almighty.

Ephesians 4:4-6 – There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Titus 2:14 – Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works

Hebrews 4:19 – There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Revelation 21:3 – And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

They are a kingdom of priests.

God’s original intention for His people was that they would intercede for the entire world as a kingdom of priests to serve Him.

Exodus 19:5-6 – Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

The same thing is said in the New Testament, but in these contexts, the “people of God” includes believers in Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Revelation 5:9-10 – And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Unless God broke His covenant to never reject His people Israel and replaced them with the Church, then these passages are all speaking of the same group of people.

They are a holy [set-apart] nation.

Again, it is very clear from the Old Testament that Israel is a nation set apart to God. The word “holy” means “set apart for a specific purpose.”1http://anneelliott.com/2008/07/hallowed-be-thy-name-part-1/

Exodus 19:5-6 – Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Exodus 33:13, 16 –  Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people… For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.

Leviticus 20:24 – But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am YHVH your God, which have separated you from other people.

Leviticus 20:26 – And ye shall be holy unto me: for I YHVH am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

Deut. 7:6-7 – For thou art an holy people unto YHVH thy God: YHVH thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. YHVH did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.

Deut. 14:2 – For thou art an holy people unto YHVH thy God, and YHVH hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deut. 14:21 – …thou art an holy people unto YHVH thy God.

Deut. 26:18-19 – And YHVH hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments; And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto YHVH thy God, as he hath spoken.

Deut. 28:9 – YHVH shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of YHVH thy God, and walk in his ways.

Deut. 33:3-4 – Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

Isaiah 62:12 – And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of YHVH: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Ezekiel 37:26-28 – Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And the heathen shall know that I YHVH do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.

Ezekiel 39:27 – When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations

Notice that the writers of the New Testament described believers in Jesus Christ the same way: as a nation that is “holy” (set apart), filled with “saints” (set-apart ones).

Ephesians 1:4 – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Ephesians 2:19 – Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

They are God’s treasure, His inheritance, and His sheep.

YHVH describes Israel as His treasured possession and His inheritance.

Exodus 19:5-6 – Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Exodus 34:9 – And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O YHVH, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.

Deut. 9:29 – Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.

1 Kings 8:51-53 – For they be thy people, and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest forth out of Egypt, from the midst of the furnace of iron: That thine eyes may be open unto the supplication of thy servant, and unto the supplication of thy people Israel, to hearken unto them in all that they call for unto thee. For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O YHVH God.

Psalm 33:12 – Blessed is the nation whose God is YHVH; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

The rest of the writers of the New Testament say the same things.

Ephesians 1:18 – The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.

God also describes Himself as the Shepherd of Israel, His people. Israel is described as His sheep.

Ezekiel 34:30-31 – Thus shall they know that I YHVH their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith YHVH God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith YHVH God.

Notice that Jesus describes Himself as the good shepherd. Notice also that He is planning to bring other sheep (not of Israel) into the sheep pen. Finally, notice that there is only one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:14-16 – I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And 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.

The rest of the writers of the New Testament say the same things.

Hebrews 13:20 – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

1 Peter 2:25 – For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls..

They are chosen by God.

God chose Israel, his people, above all other people on earth.

Deut. 10:15 – Only YHVH had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

Deut. 14:2 – For thou art an holy people unto YHVH thy God, and YHVH hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

1 Kings 3:8 – And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.

Psalm 33:12 – Blessed is the nation whose God is YHVH; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

Isaiah 43:20-21 – The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen. This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Notice that the New Testament says the same thing.

Ephesians 1:4 – According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

Ephesians 1:11 – In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.

1 Peter 2:9-10 – But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

They are redeemed.

The Old Testament says that God redeemed (or purchased) the people of Israel for His very own. In Exodus, He redeemed them from slavery in Egypt by the spilled blood of the Passover Lambs. This is a picture of His ultimate redemption of His people from the slavery of sin by the blood of His Son Jesus.

2 Sam. 7:23-24 – And what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to make him a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land, before thy people, which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt, from the nations and their gods? For thou hast confirmed to thyself thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever: and thou, YHVH, art become their God.

1 Chron. 17:21-22 – And what one nation in the earth is like thy people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be his own people, to make thee a name of greatness and terribleness, by driving out nations from before thy people whom thou hast redeemed out of Egypt? For thy people Israel didst thou make thine own people for ever; and thou, YHVH, becamest their God.

Nehemiah 1:8 – Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand.

Psalm 111:9 – He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

Isaiah 52:9 – Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for YHVH hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

Isaiah 62:12 – And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of YHVH: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Notice that the New Testament describes the both Israel and believers in Jesus as “redeemed.”

Luke 1:68-75 – Blessed be YHVH God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Ephesians 1:14 – Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory

Titus 2:14 – Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

They are called “sons of God.”

Israel is called “sons of the living God.”

Hosea 1:9-11 – Then said God, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God. Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God. Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Paul writes that, just as Hosea prophesied, the children of God are called from both the Gentiles and the Jews, and they are made the people of God. Other verses in the New Testament agree.

Romans 9:23-26 – And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

Ephesians 1:5 – Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

John 1:12 – But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

Romans 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Galatians 4:6 – And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Philippians 2:15 – That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.

Hebrews 12:7 – If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

1 John 3:1-2 – Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

They would be blessed.

Finally, God promises a special blessing to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob [Israel].

Genesis 12:1-3 – Now YHVH had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Deut. 7:14 – Thou shalt be blessed above all people.

Deut. 26:15 – Look down from thy holy habitation, from heaven, and bless thy people Israel, and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

Through faith in Jesus, even the Gentiles can participate in the blessing of Abraham, through faith in Jesus.

Galatians 3:14 – That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

If Israel has been blessed “above all people,” yet believers in Jesus are blessed with “all spiritual blessings,” how can these two groups not be one and the same?

Continue

References

References
↑1 http://anneelliott.com/2008/07/hallowed-be-thy-name-part-1/
How Many “Peoples” Does God Have?

How Many “Peoples” Does God Have?

by

Let’s review what we’ve learned so far. Popular theology says that either

  1. The Church has replaced Israel, or
  2. The Church and Israel are both people of God, completely separate from each other in God’s plan,

Scripture has a consistent message throughout, however. God has only one chosen people, which is Israel, but He invites people from all nations to join themselves with His people.

While not an exhaustive list, the following passages seem to make this especially clear.

There is one flock, one shepherd.

And 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).

This couldn’t be any clearer. Most theologians interpret this verse to say that Jesus is bringing both Jews and Gentiles into a new people of God, called “the church.”

However, if this is what Jesus meant, it would be a direct contradiction of the words of YHVH in Ezekiel 34. In this passage, YHVH speaks a word of judgment “against the shepherds of Israel” (Ezekiel 34:2) because they did not take care of His flock.

7 Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of YHVH;

8 As I live, saith YHVH God, surely because my flock became a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves, and fed not my flock;

9 Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of YHVH;

10 Thus saith YHVH God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.

11 For thus saith YHVH God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.

12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.

13 And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. (Ezekiel 34:7-13).

It is very clear who the sheep are in this passage: Israel alone fits this description.

A few verses later, you will see a Messianic prophecy which was fulfilled in Jesus.

23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.

24 And I YHVH will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I YHVH have spoken it. (Ezekiel 34:23-24).

Therefore when Jesus, the Son of David and promised Messiah (Acts 2:14-36), says the following, we know that He is speaking in fulfillment of the prophesy in Ezekiel 34 and that the flock He is referring to is none other than Israel.

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

16 And 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 10:11-16).

One Way, Only Through Jesus

In all this discussion of “who is Israel,” let us not forget for a moment that there is only one entrance into Israel, and that is through Jesus the Messiah! As we saw in Ezekiel 34, there are false shepherds, even among the nation of Israel.

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. (John 14:6-10).

The Goal of Unity

The express pray of Jesus was that all those who were included in Israel would be only one body. It was never His intention for there to be both a Northern Kingdom of Israel and a Southern Kingdom of Judah. However, because of sin, the nation was divided.

Nor has it ever been His intention for there to be two ways to worship the Father: The way of Judah, which recognizes the words of the Father but does not accept His Son Jesus as their Messiah, and the way of Christianity, which shares the gospel of Jesus but will not submit to the commands of the Father.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:20-23).

The Son and the Father are one. Jesus does not have a separate “people” (the Church) from the people of His Father (Israel). No, they are one. They speak the same words.

The Gospel Given to All

The gospel of the Kingdom, through faith in Jesus the Messiah, was preached to all people. Here are some brief quotations from Peter’s words when he addressed the crowd in Jerusalem at the feast of Shavuot (Pentecost) several weeks after the resurrection of Jesus. (See Acts 2.)

And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2:17).

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).

Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2:39).

Notice that the promise was “unto you, and to your children.” Who is Peter talking to? Who was in the crowd that day?

5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

9 Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia,

10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes,

11 Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

12 And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this? (Acts 2:5-12).

Therefore, the promise was for Jews, proselytes to Judaism, their children — and all who are afar off.

God says clearly that He cannot reject His own people, so the only conclusion that makes sense is that Gentiles and all who are afar off will be included with His people Israel.

For YHVH will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance (Psalm 94:14).

Yes, at times, He set some of them aside because of their disobedience, but He never rejected them entirely. In fact, we can see even in this passage that some of the Jews (many, in fact!) believed in Jesus and accepted the message preached by Peter. (See Acts 2:47, Acts 6:7.)

Members of One Body

The disciples of Jesus continued to teach the same message.

Note: Remember that the word Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word Mashiach, which always refers to the anointed king of Israel.

Paul writes to the believers in Rome:

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. (Romans 12:3-5)

Paul writes to the believers in Galatia:

26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-29).

Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus:

9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him (Ephesians 1:9-10).

What is the definition of the “mystery” Paul refers to here?

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel (Ephesians 3:6).

Paul also says that Gentiles can be fellow citizens in Israel:

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.1While I have cut out Ephesians 2:14-18 at this time, I will cover these verses in another article.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit (Ephesians 2:11-22).

Paul writes to the believers in Colossae, calling them the “elect,” or chosen, of God, a term used exclusively of Israel.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering (Colossians 3:12).

The author of Hebrews quotes the prophet Jeremiah and includes the believers in Jesus in the covenant given exclusively to the “house of Israel.”

8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith YHVH, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith YHVH.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith YHVH; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know YHVH: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more (Hebrews 8:8-12, quoting from Jeremiah 31:31-34).

And at the end of the famous “Faith Chapter” (Hebrews 11), after the listing of the faithful heroes of Israel, the author of Hebrews writes,

God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40).

Finally, Peter writes “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Peter 1:1-2),

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10).

Conclusion

God has only one chosen people.

People from every tribe and nation (ie. Gentiles) have been “called out” of darkness by faith in Jesus Christ and “made fellow citizens with God’s people” (Israel). All of these comprise the ecclesia, the “called-out ones.”

Although salvation was originally offered to Abraham’s seed, God extended that invitation to all who would believe.

The literal promises to Israel of a land and future King still apply, and every prophesy regarding the nation of Israel will be fulfilled, just as every promise regarding the Messiah of Israel will also be fulfilled.

Of course, the logical conclusion is that the commands and promises made to Israel would also then apply to us today.

If Israel’s commands apply to us today, we need to be sure we know what God’s instructions are.

Continue

References

References
↑1 While I have cut out Ephesians 2:14-18 at this time, I will cover these verses in another article.
What Is the Law of Moses?

What Is the Law of Moses?

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As we have seen, almost universally the Torah refers to the law of Moses, written down in the Bible’s books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It is sometimes called the “Pentateuch,” which is a Greek word meaning “five” (penta) and “scrolls” (teuchos).

Tradition tells us that the first five books of the Bible were written down by Moses. However, does this mean that Moses was the inventor and originator of all the things written in these books, or was he merely the “scribe,” so to speak, or the secretary, who “took dictation” of the words of these books, all of which were spoken from the mouth of God Himself?

Whose law is it really?

Is it the “law of Moses,” or is it the law of God, written down by Moses His servant? Let’s see what Scripture says.

Given at Sinai

Moses himself tells us that the commands and laws were given directly by God Himself.

“And Moses went up unto God, and YHVH called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel” (Exodus 19:3).

“And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which YHVH commanded him” (Exodus 19:7).

In Exodus 19, we find the children of Israel camping in the Desert of Sinai (Exodus 19:1), three months after leaving Eqypt. In this chapter, God prepares the people to receive His covenant, and in Exodus 20, God begins the covenant by giving what we call the “Ten Commandments.”

“And God spake all these words, saying,

I am YHVH thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I YHVH thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Thou shalt not take the name of YHVH thy God in vain; for YHVH will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of YHVH thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days YHVH made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore YHVH blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which YHVH thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not kill.

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s” (Exodus 20:1-17).

So who was the author of the Ten Commandments? It clearly says, “And God spake all these words.“

What was the response of the people?

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

And YHVH said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel… (Exodus 20:18-22).

They were terrified, and they begged for God to speak through Moses, rather than speaking to them directly.

So this is what God did!

“[And YHVH said unto Moses], Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them” (Exodus 21:1).

So what happened after YHVH spoke to Moses and gave them judgments to set before the people of Israel?

“And Moses came and told the people all the words of YHVH, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which YHVH hath said will we do. And Moses wrote all the words of YHVH… (Exodus 24:3-4).

What did YHVH ask Moses to do with the commands He spoke? He asked Moses to teach them to the people.

“And YHVH said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law (torah, or instruction), and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them” (Exodus 24:12).

The next chapters of Exodus continue with “The YHVH spake unto Moses, saying…” (Exodus 25:1). The rest of the book of Exodus continues, time and again, by telling us the words and instructions (covenant, law or torah, and commandments) of YHVH.

“And YHVH said unto Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel. And he was there with YHVH forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments” (Exodus 34:27-28).

As we continue through Exodus 35 to 39, we see that Moses directly commands the people what YHVH has commanded. Whatever Moses told them, they obeyed. Did they obey because they were the words of Moses? No, they were obeying YHVH Himself.

“Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that YHVH commanded Moses, so did they… According to all that YHVH commanded Moses, so the children of Israel made all the work. And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as YHVH had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them” (Exodus 39:32, 42-43).

The final chapter of Exodus emphasizes this!

Thus did Moses: according to all that YHVH commanded him, so did he (Exodus 40:16).

And he spread abroad the tent over the tabernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it; as YHVH commanded Moses (Exodus 40:19).

And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the vail of the covering, and covered the ark of the testimony; as YHVH commanded Moses (Exodus 40:21).

And he set the bread in order upon it before YHVH; as YHVH had commanded Moses (Exodus 40:23)

And he lighted the lamps before YHVH; as YHVH commanded Moses (Exodus 40:25).

And he burnt sweet incense thereon; as YHVH commanded Moses (Exodus 40:27).

And he put the altar of burnt offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation, and offered upon it the burnt offering and the meat offering; as YHVH commanded Moses (Exodus 40:29).

When they went into the tent of the congregation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed; as YHVH commanded Moses (Exodus 40:32).

When Moses wrote all these things down for us, do you think he was trying to make it extremely clear whose commands these were?

Mount Sinai (Ron Wyatt)
Mount Sinai — Image copyright Ron Wyatt http://wyattmuseum.com/

Spoken from the Tabernacle

The book of Leviticus picks up the same theme, but this time the Tabernacle has been built (according to the instructions of YHVH to Moses), and now YHVH speaks from there instead of Mount Sinai.

“And YHVH called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying…” (Leviticus 1:1).

“And YHVH spake unto Moses, saying…” (Leviticus 4:1).

“And YHVH spake unto Moses, saying…” (Leviticus 5:14).

Moses remembers to tell us that these are the commands of God, not his own words.

“And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of YHVH; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity” (Leviticus 5:17).

We find the phrase “the Lord spake unto Moses” 120 times in the Pentateuch! 1https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=the+Lord+spake+unto+Moses&begin=3&end=3

Hear the conclusion of the book of Leviticus:

“These are the commandments, which YHVH commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai” (Leviticus 27:34).

Continued in the Second Year

And so it continues into the book of Numbers:

“And YHVH spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying” (Numbers 1:1).

“And the children of Israel did according to all that YHVH commanded Moses…” (Numbers 2:34).

YHVH required obedience to Moses and had a very special relationship with him, to be sure, speaking with him directly.

“Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I YHVH will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of YHVH shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” (Numbers 12:6-8).

Even though Moses was privileged to be in the presence of YHVH and speak directly with Him, Moses concludes the book of Numbers by saying,

 “These are the commandments and the judgments, which YHVH commanded by the hand of Moses unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho” (Numbers 36:13).

Declared and Written Down

The book of Deuteronomy has a different style from the other books. In this book, Moses himself talks to the people of Israel before they enter the Promised Land. Of all the books of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy could most easily be called “the law of Moses.”

These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

(There are eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)

And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that YHVH had given him in commandment unto them;

After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:

On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying…” (Deuteronomy 1:1-5).

Even here, though, we see that Moses “declared” the law, “according unto all that YHVH had given him in commandment unto them.”

To “declare” (Strong’s #874) means to make it plain or distinct.

Whose commands did Moses “declare”?

“Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which YHVH God of your fathers giveth you.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of YHVH your God which I command you” (Deuteronomy 4:1-2).

“Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as YHVH my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it” (Deuteronomy 4:5).

Notice that Moses said “he added no more” to the words spoken by YHVH.

“These words YHVH spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me” (Deuteronomy 5:22).

Notice also that any prophet — not just Moses — who claimed to speak the words of YHVH would never add his own words to what he spoke, but he was to only speak the words of YHVH.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee [Moses], and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him… But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die (Deuteronomy 18:18, 20).

Notice also that Moses was careful to write down everything YHVH said.

“If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of YHVH thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law…” (Deuteronomy 30:10).

“And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of YHVH, and unto all the elders of Israel” (Deuteronomy 31:9).

“When all Israel is come to appear before YHVH thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing” (Deuteronomy 31:11.)

“And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished…” (Deuteronomy 31:24).

So while we know that Moses commanded the law, all the things he gave us were the words of YHVH Himself.

“Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words. Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob” (Deuteronomy 33:3-4).

Remembered by Israel

Joshua clearly remembers that the words of Moses were the direct commands of YHVH and that they had been written down in their entirety.

“Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest. This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:7-8).

“And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them” (Joshua 8:34-35).

Of course, we know the history of Israel, that by the next generation, the laws of YHVH given to Moses would start to be forgotten. Even through the times of the kings, only a very few actually listened and obeyed.

“And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the commandments of YHVH, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses” (Judges 3:4).

“And keep the charge of YHVH thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself” (1 Kings 2:3).

“For [Hezekiah] clave to YHVH, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which YHVH commanded Moses” (2 Kings 18:6).

“Because they obeyed not the voice of YHVH their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of YHVH commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them” (2 Kings 18:12).

“Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them” (2 Kings 21:8).

We do see a gradual drift in terminology, however, as we move through the centuries. By 641-610 B.C., we see that the commands of God are simply called “the law of Moses.”2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah

And like unto [Josiah] was there no king before him, that turned to YHVH with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him (2 Kings 23:25).

Only one time is the Torah called the “law of Moses” in the writings of the prophets, but even here, the prophet is careful to equate the laws of Moses with the commands of YHVH.

“Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments” (Malachi 4:4)

From the time of the Babylonian exile and after, it became the norm in Scripture to simply refer to the Torah as the “law of Moses.” (See Daniel 9:11-13, Ezra 3:2, Ezra 6:18, Ezra 7:6, etc.)

But even Nehemiah is clear that the “law of Moses” is really just the law of YHVH which had only been written down by Moses.

“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which YHVH had commanded to Israel” (Nehemiah 8:1).

Confirmed in the Gospels

In the centuries after the return from Babylon, we see that it became the norm to refer to “the Law” as “Moses.” In fact, it evens seems the sometimes people forgot that Moses was not the actual author of these laws.

  • The law of Moses – Luke 2:22
  • “Moses did write” – John 1:45
  • Law given by Moses – John 1:17, John 7:19

Yeshua referred to the laws of Moses, and we see that He upheld them and expected obedience to them.

“And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them” (Matthew 8:4). (See also Mark 1:44, Mark 10:3, Luke 5:14, John 8:5.)

“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death” (Mark 7:9-10).

“And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” (Mark 12:26).

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27)

“And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44).

Most of all notice what Jesus said about the law of Moses in John 6.

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven” (John 6:32).

The “bread from heaven” is a direct reference to the Torah, as we see in these verses:

“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHVH doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3).

“And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).

In other words, in John 6:32 Jesus is saying that it wasn’t Moses who gave the bread from heaven. The true bread from heaven came from the Father!

Used by the Apostles

In the first century, it was common to confuse the oral traditions of the various sects of Israel (Pharisees, Saducees, Essenes, etc.) with the original and written words of Moses. Because these oral traditions were based upon the laws of Moses, they were often all lumped together and called “Moses.” (We’ll discuss this more in a later post.)

“For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us” (Acts 6:14).

“And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1).

“But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses” (Acts 15:5).

Even though traditions of men and commands of God were often mixed and confused (Matthew 15:3-6, Matthew 23:23-24), the Apostles were careful to take these sticky situations and refer back to the written Law of God, as given to Moses. (You can see this specific discussion in a post here.)

We also see that the Apostles had a high respect for “Moses” and expected that the law of Moses would continue to be read, studied, and used to persuade men.

“For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day” (Acts 15:21).

“And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening” (Acts 28:23).

In their writings, the Apostles often quoted the Torah and used it as a source for their beliefs.

“For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them” (Romans 10:5).

“For it is written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?” (1 Corinthians 9:9, just one example of many where Paul quotes directly from the Torah).

“But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart” (2 Corinthians 3:15).

The Apostles credited the words of Moses as being from God and not originating within himself.

“Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle” (Hebrews 8:5).

So when we see a reference to “Moses,” it is fair to be able to substitute “the Law of God” in its place.

“For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law” (Hebrews 9:19)

“He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses” (Hebrews 10:28).

To be continued…

References

References
↑1 https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?qs_version=KJV&quicksearch=the+Lord+spake+unto+Moses&begin=3&end=3
↑2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah