I am sorry to be so late with this posting, my wife’s mother had to go to the ER with internal bleeding yesterday and the day just got away from me. We have now studied all of the most noted verses on Israel, Judah, and what it truly means to be a Jew. All point to two realities as we study further.
First, the ethnic line is in apostasy and will remain so until the Millennial Kingdom. The nation of Israel as we know it today is an idolatrous, ungodly, unrighteous nation that still denies their Messiah.
Second, the more important spiritual Israel is made up true believers in Jesus Christ as their King and High Priest. To further emphasize that point, we will now go to the lesser referenced verses and teachings.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.
For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
Baptism into just one body, not one for Israel and another for Judah and another for Christians. Jews and Greeks (all others) are united into the very body of Christ, the Church here on earth.
If the foot says, "Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body," it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.
If they were all one member, where would the body be? Not everyone has the same gifts but we are all members. As with our own body, each member is vitally important in order for us to function fully.
But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you"; or again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you."
This dispels the false notion that we don’t need one another. The ‘Church’ rarely teaches this even as it calls all to unity, usually unity in the local church.
On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.
But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.
And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
Only true Christians can actually feel or experience this connection with other true believers. It is the working of the Holy Spirit within us. It is not of our own desire or work.
Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
We are one body, one true church, yet we are also individuals. Yet, we need the rest of the body as much as the body needs us to fulfill its divine calling.
No racial division, no age division, no ethnicity division, no division due to prior lives, financial standings, or educational degrees. There are no Republicans or Democrats in Heaven.
More next Saturday.
Last week, we left off as Jehovah instructed Moses to get the people ready to hear Him give His commandments to them. His initial instructions were very insightful, as He demanded complete adherence in preparation to His coming and His message. Nothing has changed in regard to His requirements as we must also come to Him on His terms alone. So while many will think I don’t need to read or hear these commandments, as I have heard them all before. Let us hear them with open eyes, ears and minds.
Exodus 20:1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 20:2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
20:5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,
20:6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
20:7 "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
These first three must remain first or obeying the rest is futile and useless. There is only one true and living God. He begins by reminding them that just 90 days earlier, He brought them out of Egypt. While He used Moses and Aaron, it was Jehovah that performed all the miracles/plagues before them and destroyed the entire Egyptian army right before their eyes.
20:8 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 20:9 "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 20:10 but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female servant or your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you. 20:11 "For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.
Most fail to understand the importance of the fourth commandment. It is the longest commandment. It is a reminder of what Jehovah did during the seven days of creation. It is not, as some teach, only for the ‘Jews’.
You may want to do some research as to the meaning and history of what we have come to know as the seven days of the week. Jehovah numbered 6 days and gave a name, the Sabbath, to the 7th day. Satan renamed all seven after the very gods he created to take worship away from Jehovah.
20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
20:13 "You shall not murder.
20:14 "You shall not commit adultery.
20:15 "You shall not steal.
20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
There are come interesting points to make here include that the last ones are directed toward our relationship to fellow men and women, while first four are specific to our relationship to Jehovah.
Coveting is the last commandment and the only one that does not fall under the death penalty. Why? I believe that is true because as we let coveting fester in our hearts, minds, and bodies, we eventually will soon violate the other commandments, whereby we will fall under the death penalty.
20:18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance.
20:19 Then they said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die."
20:20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin."
20:21 So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where GOD was.
Not only did the arrival of GOD strike fear into the hearts of the people, but His voice struck them with terror. Just hearing the voice of GOD made them fear for their lives.
20:22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, 'You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven.
20:23 'You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
20:24 'You shall make an altar of earth for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.
20:25 'If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it. 20:26 'And you shall not go up by steps to My altar, so that your nakedness will not be exposed on it.'
What can we learn from this reminder by GOD?
These commandments were emphasized because in just 40 days, they would violate every one of them.
All of this was already known by GOD, but not by Moses, Aaron, or the people.
Promises of blessings, covenants from GOD, and protection by GOD are all dependent of obedience to GOD.
As we have studied so far, the true sons of GOD are those who worship Him in Spirit and truth, which demands obedience to all matters to Him.
More next Saturday.
We ended last week with Jehovah giving His covenant to Moses. He first prepared Moses for His personal deliverance and declaration of His covenant. What did Jehovah require before He came down to speak to all of them? How do you prepare to meet GOD?
Exodus 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever." Then Moses told the words of the people to the LORD.
19:10 The LORD also said to Moses, "Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments;
19:11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
19:12 "You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, 'Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
19:13 'No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.' When the ram's horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain."
How holy is Jehovah? What does He expect and require of us? How should we prepare to meet Him? Someday we all will be in front of Him. Will He be the same then, as on this day that is fast approaching the people of Israel?
The people have to do four things; Consecrate themselves, that is devote themselves to this coming event. Wash all their clothing. Stay clear of this mountain as it is death to all who touch it. Lastly, stay away from women, I take this to mean your wife. You are to prepare mind, body, and soul for this momentous event.
19:14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments.
19:15 He said to the people, "Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman."
19:16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
9:17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
19:18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently.
19:19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
All of this is just a small display of the glory, power, majesty, and honor of our GOD. Imagine being there as the land was quaking, the top of the mountain was covered in smoke, thunder and lightning were present, and then fire from Heaven descended to the top of this mountain. All while the trumpet was getting louder.
All of this everyone could see, hear, and feel.
19:20 The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
19:21 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, "Go down, warn the people, so that they do not break through to the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish.
19:22 "Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, or else the LORD will break out against them."
19:23 Moses said to the LORD, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, 'Set bounds about the mountain and consecrate it.'"
Jehovah had already given these instructions to Moses, but He repeated them. Why? Emphasis could be the answer. But, Jehovah knew the hearts of the people and what they would soon be doing at the foot of this holy mountain. They would have no excuse.
19:24 Then the LORD said to him, "Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the LORD, or He will break forth upon them."
19:25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Moses spoke with Jehovah face to face, which is amazing in itself. But, Moses obeyed, which is a lesson for all of us.
How did this great meeting end?
More next Saturday.
Also, my book can now be found on Amazon.
The Title is “The Identify Theft of Jesus Christ”
We will now take a brief look at what is referred to as the Mosaic Covenant. This is presented by Jehovah to Moses just 90 or less days from their leaving Egypt. But He first revealed this to Moses in Midian.
Exodus 19:1 In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that very day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
19:2 When they set out from Rephidim, they came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain.
This mountain is not just any mountain, but the very mountain upon which Jehovah first called out to Moses.
Exodus 3:1 Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 3:2 The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3:3 So Moses said, "I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up."
3:4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses!" And he said, "Here I am."
3:5 Then He said, "Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."
This will be reinforced and made abundantly clearer later.
3:6 He said also, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. 3:7 The LORD said, "I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.
3:8 "So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Amorite and the Perizzite and the Hivite and the Jebusite.
3:9 "Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me; furthermore, I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians are oppressing them. 3:10 "Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt."
3:11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?"
3:12 And He said, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain."
Here we read the beginning of the revelation of Jehovah’s covenant to the tribes of Jacob/Israel. It will be reinforced and emphasized later after they leave Egypt. This mountain can now be visited in the southern part of Saudi Arabia, known as Midian. The mountain is referred to as Mount Sinai. The locals still refer to it as Moses’ Mountain. It has been fenced off and under armed guards in Saudi Arabia for years, but now is open.
19:3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 19:4 'You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you to Myself.
19:5 'Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 19:6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel."
Did these people ever really become a holy nation and kingdom of priests to Jehovah?
So once again, we read that obedience is the condition upon which all of Jehovah’s blessings rests. He will not bless those who do not obey, instead He will curse those who disobey. More later on this subject.
19:7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD had commanded him.
19:8 All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do!" And Moses brought back the words of the people to the LORD.
Just 90 days out of a 400 year period of being in Egypt and this large group is now publicly agreeing to do all Jehovah has commanded.
Would they?
Did they?
What did Jehovah do?
More next Saturday.
We left with the official divorce of the 10 Northern Tribes known as Israel or Samaria. But before we go onto more verses on this very controversial subject that has divided Protestantism, we should once again confirm why they were divorced. Jehovah’s promises of blessings, His covenants, and His redemption are all conditional on one thing. That is obedience. This cannot be overlooked, minimized, or relegated to being out of touch with grace. Let us review the covenant with Abraham.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great."
15:2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"
15:3 And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir."
15:4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."
15:5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
5:6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
This covenant with Abraham has more than one part, but let us see if we can find some common threads that connect them.
First, Jehovah promised Abraham that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the heavens.
Genesis 17:10 "This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised.
17:11 "And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.
17:12 "And every male among you who is eight days old shall be circumcised throughout your generations, a servant who is born in the house or who is bought with money from any foreigner, who is not of your descendants.
17:13 "A servant who is born in your house or who is bought with your money shall surely be circumcised; thus shall My covenant be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant.
17:14 "But an uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My covenant."
Now we read that Jehovah gave very specific instructions as to His requirements for His covenants. He said who should be circumcised, when they should be circumcised, how they should be circumcised, and what happens if they are not circumcised. The covenant is broken when there is disobedience. Obedience is always required, that is our part of the covenant, just as it was to Abraham.
Genesis 22:10 Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
22:11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
22:12 He said, "Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me."
22:13 Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.
22:14 Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, "In the mount of the LORD it will be provided."
22:15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 22:16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son,
22:17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies.
22:18 "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Here we read a most often remembered time of Abraham preparing to sacrifice Isaac. This was the test the LORD gave to Abraham, not so Jehovah could confirm the heart of Abraham, but so Abraham could more fully understand that importance of complete obedience.
What have we learned?
First, Jehovah’s blessings require obedience.
Second, the nation of Judah/Israel/Samaria never fully realized the promise in this covenant. They were never in their history so numerous as the sands or the stars.
Third, this same nation never blessed directly all the nations of the earth. They constantly reverted to gross idolatry and immorality. They were captured, kept captive, and controlled by many other nations. The city of Jerusalem and Temple were destroyed more than once and rebuilt.
Lastly, the only seed that could and has blessed all the nations is Jesus Christ. Isaac did not bless all the nations. Jacob did not bless all the nations. Moses did not bless all the nations, etc. etc.
This is a messianic promise with the fulfillment being initially realized some 1400-1500 years later.
More next Saturday.
We left for a much needed vacation last week and returned refreshed and ready to continue.
We have now studied how the 10 northern tribes known as Israel never truly returned to the land known also referred to as Samaria. They were scattered all around the land of Assyria and remained idolatrous in a land of idolatry. But, what about Judah? Where they more righteous? Did they worship Jehovah alone? They had the Temple, the prophets, the sacrifices all in the city of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 3:1 God says, "If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD.
3:2 "Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert, And you have polluted a land With your harlotry and with your wickedness.
3:3 "Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot's forehead; You refused to be ashamed.
So often we find that we are just like Israel and Judah. We chase after all that the world, the culture, our idols of sports, entertainment, and media. We gradually sink into our own sinful idolatry and forget and deny all that Jehovah has given us, spoken to us, and created for us.
We also don’t connect the dots. That is we don’t see that our behavior has anything to do with our circumstances. We are merely victims of cosmic forces and evil people who don’t agree with us.
3:4 "Have you not just now called to Me, 'My Father, You are the friend of my youth?
3:5 'Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken And have done evil things, And you have had your way." Faithless Israel Called to Repentance.
Who is truly crying out to Jehovah in repentance and confession; both for themselves and for this nation? Most are afraid of calling anything out as evil, immoral, or ungodly. We fear men far more than we fear Jehovah. As has been said earlier, in seeking to not offend men, few take time to truthfully consider how we offend Jehovah.
3:6 Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there.
3:7 "I thought, 'After she has done all these things she will return to Me'; but she did not return, and her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
3:8 "And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
So know we read about this writ of divorce to faithless Israel. Israel was a harlot, a sinful prostitute. She sought out other gods under every tree and high hill. These were common idolatrous places for human sacrifices, idol worship, and sexual intercourse under the guise of worship.
Judah was not innocent or more righteous than Israel. Why did Jehovah not give her a writ of divorce? He did send her away to captivity into Babylon. Daniel was one of just four named who were carried away.
Jehovah’s patience is often totally misrepresented and confused with grace or tacit agreement. Jehovah says no as she is a harlot as well. He calls Judah treacherous and more faithless than Israel!
3:9 "Because of the lightness of her harlotry, she polluted the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
3:10 "Yet in spite of all this her treacherous sister Judah did not return to Me with all her heart, but rather in deception," declares the LORD.
3:11 And the LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel has proved herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
3:12 "Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say, 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD; 'I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,' declares the LORD; 'I will not be angry forever.
Yet with all this horrendous harlotry and outright denial of the fear of Jehovah, He still calls them back. But they must repentant and confess their sins. They must deny and destroy all their idols. They need to forsake all of their old fellow idol worshipers. They must turn completely around and cry out to Jehovah for mercy.
This change of heart, this change of direction, this change of priorities, this change of plans, and this change of heart is more needed today than in perhaps any other time in history.
Do you feel estranged from Jehovah?
Do you wonder why certain things are happening to you?
Have you truly sought out Jehovah in fear and trembling?
More next Saturday.
We left off last week with the 10 northern tribes being taken away to Assyria. Did they ever return? The biblical answer is no. Let us finish the chapter we started with last week.
2 Kings 17:24 The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sephar-vaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
Assyria settled the people of Israel throughout the kingdom and resettled the land with people from other parts of the kingdom. There is no real returning of these 10 tribes to the land of Samaria. They were spread out and lived their idolatrous lives in the land that fostered this idolatry. They fit right into their new surroundings.
17:25 At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them.
17:26 So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land."
So here we discover their first problem or lie, they only considered that God was only over the land in question. They had no consideration for the God who created all the heavens, all the earth, and all the people.
17:27 Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land."
17:28 So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.
Here is the world’s solution to a problem that has no worldly solution. Let us appease this local god. Let us bring back one of the priests of this local diety and let him teach them just enough to rid the land of lions.
17:29 But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the houses of the high places which the people of Samaria had made, every nation in their cities in which they lived.
17:30 The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, 17:31 and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech the gods of Sepharvaim.
The vast plurality of names of false gods only serves to bring to mind the range of cultures and languages. Satan uses the same gods, but lets the local culture and language worship and identify with it. Thus we find sun worship throughout the world. We find child sacrifice and fertility rites everywhere as well. Most often, it is the same idol with just a name from the language of the people in each area or nation.
17:32 They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who acted for them in the houses of the high places. 17:33 They feared the LORD and served their own gods according to the custom of the nations from among whom they had been carried away into exile.
This seems to be an oxymoron; how can you fear the LORD and worship idols at the same time? Idolatry doesn’t make sense, even as it is practiced throughout the world today. Customs and traditions of men are preferred over the doctrines of the LORD, even in ‘Christian’ churches today.
17:34 To this day they do according to the earlier customs: they do not fear the LORD, nor do they follow their statutes or their ordinances or the law, or the commandments which the LORD commanded the sons of Jacob, whom He named Israel; 7:35 with whom the LORD made a covenant and commanded them, saying, "You shall not fear other gods, nor bow down yourselves to them nor serve them nor sacrifice to them. 17:36 "But the LORD, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, Him you shall fear, and to Him you shall bow yourselves down, and to Him you shall sacrifice.
Has God not made this abundantly clear? Does the Bible not detail His warnings, His redemption from Egypt, and His bringing them into the Promised Land? It is too easy to see the sins of the twelve tribes in the desert and in the 10 tribes of Samaria, but so hard to see it right under our own noses!
17:37 "The statutes and the ordinances and the law and the commandment which He wrote for you, you shall observe to do forever; and you shall not fear other gods. 17:38 "The covenant that I have made with you, you shall not forget, nor shall you fear other gods.
17:39 "But the LORD your God you shall fear; and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies."
Two problems! One we don’t really know God’s word as we should. We also forget what He has said. Neither is right, neither is safe, and neither is without eternal consequences.
17:40 However, they did not listen, but they did according to their earlier custom. 17:41 So while these nations feared the LORD, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, as their fathers did, so they do to this day.
Be aware of the strength and resiliency of false beliefs, traditions, and membership in a ‘church’. Church membership has no more bearing on your eternal salvation than does circumcision.
What have we learned?
The 10 northern tribes never returned to Samaria.
Adding a little worship of God to your plurality of other gods only increases your condemnation.
Having a little or small concept or understanding of God is eternally dangerous.
The world and the church is full of false teachers.
More next Saturday
There is no one who is truly lost by Jehovah. He doesn’t lose or lose track of anyone. He knows all whom He created in His image. So let us take a brief review of who are the lost tribes. They are lost because they were taken into captivity and never truly returned intact. Let us review this sad event in the history of the 10 northern tribes.
2 Kngs 17:1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned nine years. 17:2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
Not one king in all of the history of the 10 northern tribes, known as Israel, was good but evil. Judah had both good kings and evil kings.
17:3 Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against him, and Hoshea became his servant and paid him tribute.
17:4 But the king of Assyria found conspiracy in Hoshea, who had sent messengers to So king of Egypt and had offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year; so the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison.
People sin against Jehovah all the time but don’t always feel the consequences of their rebellious sins. However, worldly kings don’t tolerate deceit and rebellion.
17:5 Then the king of Assyria invaded the whole land and went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.
17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria and carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and settled them in Halah and Habor, on the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
Three years is a very long time to be surrounded by enemies and held captive in your own cities without any chance of replenishing food or water.
17:7 Now this came about because the sons of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and they had feared other gods
17:8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD had driven out before the sons of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel which they had introduced.
17:9 The sons of Israel did things secretly which were not right against the LORD their God. Moreover, they built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city.
17:10 They set for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, 17:11 and there they burned incense on all the high places as the nations did which the LORD had carried away to exile before them; and they did evil things provoking the LORD.
17:12 They served idols, concerning which the LORD had said to them, "You shall not do this thing."
It was Jehovah who sent the Assyrians to punish Israel. They had been warned repeatedly but ignored all the warnings. They had access to the truth, but instead persisted in living without it. This always leads to terrible depravity, debasement, and denial.
17:13 Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah through all His prophets and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep My commandments, My statutes according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you through My servants the prophets."
17:14 However, they did not listen, but stiffened their neck like their fathers, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
17:15 They rejected His statutes and His covenant which He made with their fathers and His warnings with which He warned them. And they followed vanity and became vain, and went after the nations which surrounded them, concerning which the LORD had commanded them not to do like them.
17:16 They forsook all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves molten images, even two calves, and made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal.
17:17 Then they made their sons and their daughters pass through the fire, and practiced divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him.
17:18 So the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them from His sight; none was left except the tribe of Judah.
Jehovah let this go one for generations. He sent prophets, who they ignored. His Temple remained in Jerusalem, which they ignored. Too far to travel. Too hard to take time out of busy lives. No real relevance to how we live today.
Does this sound familiar? Clearly Jehovah took them out of the very land He had promised to them. But, Jehovah’s blessings are all conditional on our behavior. He will not bless idolatrous, disobedient, self-righteous people.
Unfortunately for them as for us, Satan will flood us with false teachers who deceive us and cater to our sinful nature, flesh, and worldly desires. Since this is true, who came back to live in this land known as Samaria?
More next Saturday.
As we studied last week, we all can begin to understand how the division and confusion began. Unless you seriously look at all the pertinent verses on this subject, you will only have a partial understanding, which means you will not be right but wrong most of the time. We also must contend against 100’s of years of traditions and Satan’s relentless pursuit of destroying the ‘church’ of Jesus Christ.
Let us look once again into the name, meaning or designation of the word Jew. Jew only refers historically to those of the tribe of Judah. The word Jew first appears in the Old Testament in Esther, once in Jeremiah, and once in Zechariah. To better understand how this all ties together, we must go back to the sons of Noah. We studied this earlier, so we will just review in this context. All the families, tribes, and nations on the earth came from these three sons. Gen 10:1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.
Geesisn 10:1 Now these are the records of the generations of Shem, Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah; and sons were born to them after the flood.
Of these three, we know that Ham was evil. From Ham we find Cush, Put, and Nimrod. From Nimrod we see they continued evil in his building of Babel, which is in Babylon.
Genesis 10:2 The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal and Meshech and Tiras.
10:3 The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah.
From all of these sons mentioned, we find a two that continue on in history, Magog and Ashkenaz. Gog and Magog not only are in the history of Israel, but are still seen in some ritual celebrations in England. The one that is important in our study is Ashkenaz.
But, first we need to reconfirm that only the sons of Shem are in God’s line to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and the Messiah. All the other sons of Shem’s brothers serve idols and are the enemies of God and His people.
Genesis 10:20 These are the sons of Ham, according to their families, according to their languages, by their lands, by their nations.
10:21 Also to Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, and the older brother of Japheth, children were born.
The word Hebrew comes for the name of Eber. Out of Shem’s lineage we find Peleg, Terah, and Abram. While Noah was a righteous man, he did not raise three righteous sons. There are numerous examples of godly fathers having godless sons. There is only one clear example of a godly father being recognized by God as raising godly sons.
While this should bring into our consciousness is that it is a very hard, challenging task for fathers to raise godly children. While it is hard and rare, it is not impossible.
Ezekiel 44:15 "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood," declares the Lord GOD.
44:16 "They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge.
44:17 "It shall be that when they enter at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and wool shall not be on them while they are ministering in the gates of the inner court and in the house.
44:18 "Linen turbans shall be on their heads and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.
44:19 "When they go out into the outer court, into the outer court to the people, they shall put off their garments in which they have been ministering and lay them in the holy chambers; then they shall put on other garments so that they will not transmit holiness to the people with their garments.
44:20 "Also they shall not shave their heads, yet they shall not let their locks grow long; they shall only trim the hair of their heads.
44:21 "Nor shall any of the priests drink wine when they enter the inner court.
44:22 "And they shall not marry a widow or a divorced woman but shall take virgins from the offspring of the house of Israel, or a widow who is the widow of a priest.
44:23 "Moreover, they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
Why, do you ask, do we need to discuss fatherhood in this study?
First, so we don’t look at Noah and his sons as the exception to the rule. Only Shem and his sons, not all of his sons, continued in the line of the Messiah.
Second, sons are either godly or ungodly, righteous or unrighteous. There are no almost good enough sons. We need to fully understand this as it will continue to be revealed in our study.
Third, only God identifies who is godly or righteous, not man.
Next Saturday we will try to identify why Jesus warns us in Revelation 3.
Revelation 3:9 'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
More next Saturday.
Now that we have established that Jehovah brought many different nationalities into His kingdom here on earth of which we are one! What are the critical verses that have caused such a division within the ‘Protestant’ religion? We should now start to understand why there is such confusion? Jehovah is not the GOD of confusion, but Satan is! Satan will deceive, divide, deny, and create divorce among families and communities of faith. I will introduce a few of the many verses that cause concern.
Romans 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
2:29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
Galatians 3:6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.
3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.
3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU."
3:9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.
Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
9:7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."
9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love
1:5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,
1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace
1:8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
1:9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
1:10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
1:12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.
1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,
1:14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
Revelation 3:9 'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
We will not go into depth on these verses today, but I want you to contemplate just what is said in all of them. I will summarize a few very important statements.
First, Romans 2 -Jew is known as a term that refers to being from the tribe of family of Judah. We, being in Christ, are really the ‘true’ Jews.
Second, Galatians 3-Again, the true ‘sons of Abraham’ are not related thru the flesh but by faith are solely related thru the Spirit.
Third, Romans 9-The true ‘sons of Abraham’ come thru the promise to Abraham not the physical flesh of Abraham.
Fourth, Ephesians 1-We were chosen by Jehovah before Abraham or Jacob were born. We are by faith all part of God’s chosen people and will enjoy the inheritance of being heirs.
Fifth, Revelation 3-Satan has deceived the entire world into believing that the only true, uniquely chosen people of God are those who self-identify as being a Jew. Jehovah says they are many are lying about their being a Jew.
As you can know see, this is a very difficult and controversial topic to study. It has been caught up in the rhetoric and defense of a variety of false beliefs to the extent that the ‘church’ no longer truly goes to the Word of Jehovah to find the truth about which they so vehemently proclaim, defend, and support.
We will continue let the Word of Jehovah be our sole guide in truth.
More next Saturday.
We left off with Ruth returning home to Naomi after a long, hard day of working in the fields of Boaz. As Paul Harvey used to say, now the rest of the story.
Ruth 3:1 Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, "My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you?
3:2 "Now is not Boaz our kinsman, with whose maids you were? Behold, he winnows barley at the threshing floor tonight.
3:3 "Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself and put on your best clothes, and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
3:4 "It shall be when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies, and you shall go and uncover his feet and lie down; then he will tell you what you shall do."
3:5 She said to her, "All that you say I will do."
This is a very controversial passage, yet Jehovah works through the decisions of men to bring about His plan. It almost sounds like some kind of entrapment, but as there is no passage in Scripture that describes this plan, it will have to be a plan by Naomi, perhaps inspired by generations of women.
It can be noted that Ruth had to clean up for her role. Few men are attracted to dirty, disheveled, and poorly dressed women. Even though Jehovah looks at the inside while men look on the outside, Boaz is already acquainted with Ruth’s godly character. Since she is younger than Boaz, she had to let him know that his age did not pose any problem for her.
3:6 So she went down to the threshing floor and did according to all that her mother-in-law had commanded her.
3:7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain; and she came secretly, and uncovered his feet and lay down.
3:8 It happened in the middle of the night that the man was startled and bent forward; and behold, a woman was lying at his feet.
3:9 He said, "Who are you?" And she answered, "I am Ruth your maid. So spread your covering over your maid, for you are a close relative."
3:10 Then he said, "May you be blessed of the LORD, my daughter. You have shown your last kindness to be better than the first by not going after young men, whether poor or rich.
3:11 "Now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.
Here we read that Boaz affirms his own view of the character of Ruth by calling her a woman of excellence. He also knows alot about his standing to become her kinsman redeemer.
3:12 "Now it is true I am a close relative; however, there is a relative closer than I.
3:13 "Remain this night, and when morning comes, if he will redeem you, good; let him redeem you. But if he does not wish to redeem you, then I will redeem you, as the LORD lives. Lie down until morning."
3:14 So she lay at his feet until morning and rose before one could recognize another; and he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."
His concern for her reputation is admirable and godly.
3:15 Again he said, "Give me the cloak that is on you and hold it." So she held it, and he measured six measures of barley and laid it on her. Then she went into the city.
Once again, Boaz makes sure they are provided for but this time as a gift from him. It also shows his true desire to do exactly as he had stated.
3:16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, "How did it go, my daughter?" And she told her all that the man had done for her.
3:17 She said, "These six measures of barley he gave to me, for he said, 'Do not go to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'"
3:18 Then she said, "Wait, my daughter, until you know how the matter turns out; for the man will not rest until he has settled it today."
Boaz will now show all that he is a man of excellence. He is also a man that doesn’t waste time or let a god-given opportunity go by him. You will notice that there is no record of Boaz praying to Jehovah to ask if he should go on with his plan, as this is what Jehovah had already clearly stated for widows within a tribe.
4:1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
Again we see how Jehovah’s providence brings the only other man, who can legally marry Ruth and buy the property from Naomi, right to Boaz.
4:2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.
4:3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4:4 "So I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."
Ten witnesses and the laying out of the sale of the land began early in the day. This un-named relative eagerly says he will buy the land. He has the means and recognizes that land doesn’t come up for sale too often, as it is usually leased until the year of Jubilee.
4:5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."
4:6 The closest relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it."
4:7 Now this was the custom in former times in Israel concerning the redemption and the exchange of land to confirm any matter: a man removed his sandal and gave it to another; and this was the manner of attestation in Israel.
4:8 So the closest relative said to Boaz, "Buy it for yourself." And he removed his sandal.
Well the price just went up or the cost became too high, so this un-named relative said no to Ruth.
How often does this type of decision come before us? Do we choose the wordly answer but balk at Jehovah’s more costly plan?
4:9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
4:10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."
4:11 All the people who were in the court, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel; and may you achieve wealth in Ephrathah and become famous in Bethlehem.
4:12 "Moreover, may your house be like the house of Perez whom Tamar bore to Judah, through the offspring which the LORD will give you by this young woman."
Boaz had the means, knew the Law, and was ready to assume the god-given responsibility presented to him. What was the result?
4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son.
This is an important note. Ruth had been married in Moab but had to children. As soon as everyone was totally obeying Jehovah, He opened her womb.
4:14 Then the women said to Naomi, "Blessed is the LORD who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.
4:15 "May he also be to you a restorer of life and a sustainer of your old age; for your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given birth to him."
4:16 Then Naomi took the child and laid him in her lap, and became his nurse.
4:17 The neighbor women gave him a name, saying, "A son has been born to Naomi!" So they named him Obed. He is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
So what can we learn from this ending of Jehovah’s story for Ruth?
First, Jehovah’s plan for our lives are often first revealed in the seemingly small events of our lives.
Second, obedience is most important to fully realized Jehovah’s blessings.
Third,Boaz is remembered but the other close relative is forgotten. Un-named people can be considered not worthy of being remembered.
Fourth, we may never know what Jehovah’s has planned in the distant future when we obey in the present.
Fifth, Ruth is Rahab’s daughter-in-law and David’s great grandmother. She is also remembered as being in the lineage of Jesus Christ, as is Rahab, Salmon, and Boaz.
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
How do you want to be remembered?
More next Saturday.
Sorry for missing last week, but we were called out of town and did not get back in time to complete this lesson. We will try to conclude out brief lesson on God’s providence with Ruth and then go on to our study on Israel.
Ruth 2:1 Now Naomi had a kinsman of her husband, a man of great wealth, of the family of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz.
2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Please let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after one in whose sight I may find favor." And she said to her, "Go, my daughter."
How do two widows survive without husbands? One way to get food is to go into the fields and glean what is left from the reapers. No welfare and no handouts, just earnest, hard work in the sun all day.
2:3 So she departed and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers; and she happened to come to the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech.
2:4 Now behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem and said to the reapers, "May the LORD be with you." And they said to him, "May the LORD bless you."
2:5 Then Boaz said to his servant who was in charge of the reapers, "Whose young woman is this?"
Three things should catch our attention. First, Ruth unknowingly found herself in the field of Boaz. Second, we see something about the man of Boaz, who gives a very godly greeting to his reapers. Third, Boaz took notice of Ruth, just one of the women gleaning.
2:6 The servant in charge of the reapers replied, "She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the land of Moab.
2:7 "And she said, 'Please let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves.' Thus she came and has remained from the morning until now; she has been sitting in the house for a little while."
The servant knew alot about Ruth. Bethlehem was a very small town, probably full of people who were related in some way to each other. Also, note that Ruth asked permission for her to glean. This is a very humble sign of respect.
2:8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, "Listen carefully, my daughter. Do not go to glean in another field; furthermore, do not go on from this one, but stay here with my maids.
2:9 "Let your eyes be on the field which they reap, and go after them. Indeed, I have commanded the servants not to touch you. When you are thirsty, go to the water jars and drink from what the servants draw."
2:10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him, "Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?"
Boaz was going to make sure she could safely glean without concern. He also extended her the favor of being able to find water easily. Ruth was surprised at Boaz’s kindness. His kindness was to let her work all day in the field to provide some grain for her and Naomi. He could have just said come back tomorrow and take all you want, but that was not God’s plan for widows.
2:11 Boaz replied to her, "All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know.
2:12 "May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge."
2:13 Then she said, "I have found favor in your sight, my lord, for you have comforted me and indeed have spoken kindly to your maidservant, though I am not like one of your maidservants."
Boaz apparently knew alot about Ruth, probably because he had inquired and also Naomi’s return caused a stir in Bethlehem. Her leaving Moab to seek God’s blessings and protection is evidence that she had left al of her past.
2:14 At mealtime Boaz said to her, "Come here, that you may eat of the bread and dip your piece of bread in the vinegar." So she sat beside the reapers; and he served her roasted grain, and she ate and was satisfied and had some left.
2:15 When she rose to glean, Boaz commanded his servants, saying, "Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not insult her.
2:16 "Also you shall purposely pull out for her some grain from the bundles and leave it that she may glean, and do not rebuke her."
2:17 So she gleaned in the field until evening. Then she beat out what she had gleaned, and it was about an ephah of barley.
Boaz continued to show small amounts of favor to Ruth. He wanted to make sure she and Naomi could eat. Ruth worked all day in the sun and then after that beat our the barley! A very long day of hard, hot work.
2:18 She took it up and went into the city, and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned. She also took it out and gave Naomi what she had left after she was satisfied.
Let us not overlook the fact that Ruth saved some of the food provided to her by Boaz and now shares it with Naomi.
2:19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."
2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead." Again Naomi said to her, "The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives."
2:21 Then Ruth the Moabitess said, "Furthermore, he said to me, 'You should stay close to my servants until they have finished all my harvest.'"
Now Naomi recognizes the kindness of Boaz and gives blessing from God to him. Is Naomi less bitter now? The barley harvest is the first of two harvests. The wheat harvest comes closely after this. So Ruth has the chance to glean enough barley and wheat to sustain them through the winter until next harvest time.
Can you see how God works through the little, common events of life to make His plan complete? Too many of us have not noticed God in the small events of our ‘ordinary’ lives, but instead watched and waited for the ‘big’ events. What have we missed? What have we failed to thank God for in every new day?
More next Saturday.
The men’s Bible study, which I have taught for over 20 years, is also studying this very same topic. I failed to give you the important example of Jehovah’s absolute sovereignty in election in the story of Ruth. I will attempt to reveal this to you and then go back to our study on Israel. Of course, as we have studied, Ruth is a very important example of the ethnicity of Judah/Israel. Let us begin in Chapter 1.
Ruth 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons. 1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
We will begin by identifying some very important facts.
First, we did not find any notice of Elimelech praying for wisdom during this famine. Second, Moab was off-limits to Israelites. While this prohibition was often violated, it does not nullify Jehovah’s warnings. Remember, the nations of both Moab and Ammon were the offsprings of the incest of Lot’s daughters.
Deuteronomy 23:3 "No Ammonite or Moabite shall enter the assembly of the LORD; none of their descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall ever enter the assembly of the LORD, 23:4 because they did not meet you with food and water on the way when you came out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse you.
There are numerous passages in Judges, Kings, and Chronicles detailing the long-standing battles between Moab and Israel/Judah. Moab was an enemy nation, not a place of refuge. So Elinelech ignored Jehovah’s commandments and went to Moab.
1:3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
1:4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
Once again, they were prohibited from marrying outside the nation, especially Moabite women. But, they ignored this command and they both died without any children.
1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.
1:7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
1:9 "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
This is quite a touching scene, three widows with very few options. Interestingly, Naomi stayed in Moab until she saw the economy was better again in Judah.
1:10 And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people."
1:11 But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
1:12 "Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons, 1:13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me."
This is just the first of Naomi’s blaming Jehovah for all of her problems, totally ignoring that they had disobeyed Him by leaving 10 years earlier.
:14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
1:15 Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."
This is a very disturbing statement by Naomi, especially in light of the following testimony of Ruth. Naomi, who should have firmly known that the gods of Moab were not gods. Jehovah was the only true and living God, yet she was comfortable sending these young women back to an idolatrous, child-sacrificing life. It would seem that Naomi had presented Jehovah to them, but now seems willing to send them back.
1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
1:17 "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me."
1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Ruth’s testimony is important in contrast to Naomi’s comments and the turning back of Orpah.
1:19 So they both went until they came to Bethlehem. And when they had come to Bethlehem, all the city was stirred because of them, and the women said, "Is this Naomi?"
1:20 She said to them, "Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me.
1:21 "I went out full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has witnessed against me and the Almighty has afflicted me?"
Here we once again find Naomi appearing to blame Jehovah for all her problems. Not once is there any indication of her recognizing any personal responsibility.
1:22 So Naomi returned, and with her Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, who returned from the land of Moab. And they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Let us now begin to summarize some evidences of Jehovah’s calling Ruth and how His plans are never interrupted by man’s disobedience.
First, a famine in the land led Elimelech to go to Moab, even though it was against Jehovah’s warnings.
Second, the sons married Moab women, again a violation of His warnings.
Third, all of the men died and no off-springs. Jehovah had closed their wombs. Why?
Fourth, Naomi stayed 10 years, most of which without her husband. Why did she not immediately return to her home and extended family? Just like Lot’s wife, she may have enjoyed living in Moab.
Fifth, Ruth had miraculously turned her life over to Jehovah. But, how could she grow spiritually in Moab?
Sixth, they arrived exactly at the beginning of the barley harvest. This is very significant as we will see next week.
More next Saturday.
Israel as a word or term is associated with many different entities or persons. This one fact has led to some of the confusion among the denominations. Let us look at this list.
First, it is the new name given to Jacob. Yet, in the New Testament, Jesus still refers to him as Jacob.
Matthew 1:2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.
1:15 Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.
:16 Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.
8:11 "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
22:32 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
It is also used for the nation of Israel. Jehovah describes Himself as the God of Israel. As we just read, He also refers to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! So it would appear that He uses these names interchangeably.
The tribes of Israel refers to the 12 sons of Jacob/Israel and their extended families.
Genesis 32:28 He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed."
While we read that God changed his name on his way from the house of Laban, He still uses Jacob as well.
Genesis 46:1 So Israel set out with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.
46:2 God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here I am."
46:3 He said, "I am God, the God of your father; do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there.
46:4 "I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will close your eyes."
46:5 Then Jacob arose from Beersheba; and the sons of Israel carried their father Jacob and their little ones and their wives in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
This seems rather confusing and contradictory. Is his name Jacob or Israel? Both are used in these 5 verses. This certainly has added to the differences in opinions on this important matter. God spoke to Israel by calling out Jacob. The sons of Israel carried their father Jacob.
Genesis 48:1 Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is sick." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.
48:2 When it was told to Jacob, "Behold, your son Joseph has come to you," Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed.
This is the passage where Jacob/Israel blesses his sons and the sons of Joseph. Again we read of this dichotomy of references, Jacob and Israel in the same passages and verses.
We will continue on our study of this important division within Protestantism by adding to this confusion before God’s Word begins to reveal what is really meant. We can understand how godly men could have disagreed, but God is not a God of confusion.
More next Saturday.
There is a separation between two interpretations of who or what is Israel. I call this denominational disunity. It is just one of Satan’s schemes. Paul stated that we know the devil’s schemes.
2 Corinthians 2:8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.
2:9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
2:10 But one whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ,
2:11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
6:11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
6:12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
6:13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
Twice Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to warn us of Satan’s schemes against us.
A few quick comments;
Paul uses the plural.
Paul stated that these schemes are known.
Paul tells us we need the full armor of Jehovah to resist and stand firm.
It is my belief that the ‘church’ is woefully ignorant of his schemes and therefore vulnerable to being deceived. So in the example of who is Israel we find two polar opposite belief positions.
First, the Presbyterian Denominations believe that the ‘church’ has totally replaced Israel. There are many variations of this within the ‘churches’ who basically believe this.
Second, the Baptist Denominations believe exactly the opposite. Of course there are many variations within the Baptists as well.
They both can’t be right, although they both could be wrong. Godly men have not come to any agreement on this even though it divides the body of Christ. I don’t want to be deceived or be a deceiver. So we will continue to go exclusively to the Word of God and let His words lead us into truth.
I will end with a few verses for your prayerful consideration until next week.
Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;
9:7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED."
9:8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.
We will continue next Saturday.
We have studied both Rahab the harlot and Ruth, both from Moab and in the lineage of David and Jesus Christ. So King David had Moabite blood in him when he became King of Israel. How can we see if ethnicity is the sole identifier of what is become known as an Isrealite? Let us go to the New or Second Testament to continue. We will start with John the Baptist.
Matthew 3:1 Now in those days John the Baptist *came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,
3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
3:3 For this is the one referred to by Isaiah the prophet when he said, "THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT!'"
John was born to introduce the Messiah to the nation of Israel. Even though the nation now only included Judah and Benjamin. Technically, it was only the nation of Judah, hence the origin of the name as Jew which only refers to those of Judah.
3:4 Now John himself had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
3:5 Then Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan;
3:6 and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, as they confessed their sins.
John was reminding all that they all had to repent. They were all sinful as are all today. Bearing fruit that glorifies Jehovah is still one of the evidences of true repentance and salvation.
3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
3:8 "Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;
3:9 and do not suppose that you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father'; for I say to you that from these stones God is able to raise up children to Abraham.
What is he saying? They may have been related to Abraham in a physical way, but how could stones be children of Abraham?
3:10 "The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
3:11 "As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
3:12 "His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Clearly, distant blood relatives of Abraham were not true sons if they were not repentant and totally submissive to Jesus. So eternal children of Abraham must be saved to truly be within Abraham’s family.
But, being in Abraham’s family is not the end goal. Becoming a child of Jehovah is the only family that truly has any eternal value. The Jews had too long believed that a family connection to Abraham was all that they needed. What did Jesus say?
John 8:39 They (the Jews) answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus *said to them, "If you are Abraham's children, do the deeds of Abraham.
8:40 "But as it is, you are seeking to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth, which I heard from God; this Abraham did not do.
Jesus immediately questions their reliance on being Abraham’s children. He told them they were not children of Abraham because they don’t act in a manner consistent with Abraham.
8:41 "You are doing the deeds of your father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father: God."
They now claim they are also children of the Father. They slander Jesus by implying that His birth was illegitimate.
8:42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me.
Jesus once again tells them God is not their Father either. Ethnicity has no bearing on being a child of God. It is not your physical family, no matter how godly, that matters in your quest for eternal life.
8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word.
8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Now Jesus tells them that they are in a very serious situation. Their father is not Abraham (blood ethnicity) or God (religious traditions), but their father was Satan, the devil. God’s family of His chosen people is not limited nor restricted by any physical means.
How this is further amplified will be discussed next Saturday.
We left off with Rahab the harlot and her being in the lineage of Jesus Christ. So a moabite is in the lineage of Jesus. As we have already studied, from the mixed multitude to Rahab, we know that the nation of Israel is not purely ethnic in nature, as there are a large variety of mixed ethnicities in Jehovah’s chosen people. Now we continue on our search thru the Bible to ascertain the true Israel by studying the story or Ruth. We begin by getting to know Ruth.
Ruth 1:1 Now it came about in the days when the judges governed, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the land of Moab with his wife and his two sons.
1:2 The name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife, Naomi; and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Judah. Now they entered the land of Moab and remained there.
1:3 Then Elimelech, Naomi's husband, died; and she was left with her two sons.
1:4 They took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. And they lived there about ten years.
1:5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died, and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
Ruth was also from Moab, just as was Rahab. She was married to one of Naomi’s sons, but now all three women had become widows. What would happen next? What choices are there for widows at this time in Moab or Israel?
1:6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 1:7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
1:8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 1:9 "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
It would appear that both daughters-in-law loved Naomi and did not want to leave her. The custom in both countries would be for the family to provide for the widows in their family. Today, that sense of responsibility or even love is lost to most in the U.S. They are often left to depend on themselves or the government. Ruth, however, refused to go back to her family in Moab, but would return to Israel with Naomi.
1:16 But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.
1:17 "Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the LORD do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me." 1:18 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her.
Ruth’s testimony confirms her new faith in the God of Naomi and her desire to make a home in Israel. Jehovah had reached out to her, just as He reached out to Rahab. While the whole story of Ruth has many truths for us today, we will continue to focus on Israel.
2:19 Her mother-in-law then said to her, "Where did you glean today and where did you work? May he who took notice of you be blessed." So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked and said, "The name of the man with whom I worked today is Boaz."
2:20 Naomi said to her daughter-in-law, "May he be blessed of the LORD who has not withdrawn his kindness to the living and to the dead." Again Naomi said to her, "The man is our relative, he is one of our closest relatives."
Ruth had to glean in the fields to provide food for her and Naomi. Boaz was a relative and actually qualified to be her kinsman redeemer.
4:1 Now Boaz went up to the gate and sat down there, and behold, the close relative of whom Boaz spoke was passing by, so he said, "Turn aside, friend, sit down here." And he turned aside and sat down.
4:2 He took ten men of the elders of the city and said, "Sit down here." So they sat down.
4:3 Then he said to the closest relative, "Naomi, who has come back from the land of Moab, has to sell the piece of land which belonged to our brother Elimelech.
4:4 "So I thought to inform you, saying, 'Buy it before those who are sitting here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it; but if not, tell me that I may know; for there is no one but you to redeem it, and I am after you.'" And he said, "I will redeem it."
4:5 Then Boaz said, "On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must also acquire Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of the deceased, in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance."
4:6 The closest relative said, "I cannot redeem it for myself, because I would jeopardize my own inheritance. Redeem it for yourself; you may have my right of redemption, for I cannot redeem it.
There is an order of redeeming land that must be followed and in this case included acquiring Ruth as a wife to continue the man’s name. Boaz was second in line, but the first did not want to have another wife.
4:9 Then Boaz said to the elders and all the people, "You are witnesses today that I have bought from the hand of Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech and all that belonged to Chilion and Mahlon.
4:10 "Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, the widow of Mahlon, to be my wife in order to raise up the name of the deceased on his inheritance, so that the name of the deceased will not be cut off from his brothers or from the court of his birth place; you are witnesses today."
So a widow from Moab marries a wealthy land owner in Israel. Where does this lead?
4:21 and to Salmon was born Boaz, and to Boaz, Obed, 4:22 and to Obed was born Jesse, and to Jesse, David.
As we studied last week, Rahab married Salmon. Boaz was her son. Boaz was half Moabite and now marries another woman from Moab. So Rahab was Ruth’s mother-in-law.
All of these marriages lead to David and eventually to Jesus. Obed, Jesse, and David all had Moab blood in their veins. They were both godly women who Jehovah chose out of Moab to be in the lineage of Jesus.
More next Saturday.
I am sorry to be late, yesterday just got away with my time. Let us finish the story or Rahab the harlot as we continue to study the very Word of Jehovah. We now read the story of the fall and complete destruction of Jericho and the death of all within its walls.
Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in.
6:2 The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors.
Just as Rahab had told the two spies, the whole city was in fear of them. So the city buttoned up and prepared for some siege, which never came.
6:3 "You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.
6:4 "Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.
Joshua is now receiving his marching orders directly from Jehovah. While to many these instructions don’t make sense, Jehovah doesn’t need to make any excuses or explanations to require complete obedience.
6:5 "It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."
Walls don’t ever just fall down on their own. Jericho was a heavily walled city built on a hill with an outer wall and an inner wall. Any army trying to break through would be shot at the archers on the massive outer wall.
6:6 So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD."
6:7 Then he said to the people, "Go forward, and march around the city, and let the armed men go on before the ark of the LORD."
Joshua had learned from his 40 years of being with Moses and now hearing from Jehovah personally, that he did not doubt one word, but carefully instructed all to obey.
6:15 Then on the seventh day they rose early at the dawning of the day and marched around the city in the same manner seven times; only on that day they marched around the city seven times.
6:16 At the seventh time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.
6:17 "The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
With all the instructions, Joshua made sure that Rahab the harlot would be spared and all of her family. He also reminded them that they would take no spoils but only keep the precious metals that would belong to Jehovah, not to them.
6:18 "But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it.
6:19 "But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD." Jos 6:20 So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city.
6:21 They utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, with the edge of the sword.
This is the terrible cost of sin and abominable idolatry. Everyone and every animal would be destroyed. None would survive.
6:22 Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the harlot's house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, as you have sworn to her."
6:23 So the young men who were spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and her mother and her brothers and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives and placed them outside the camp of Israel.
True to their promise, the original two spies went to Rahab’s house and made sure that she and all her assembled family would be safely escorted out of the city. They would have to be kept out of the camp for 7 days to be considered clean and enter the camp.
6:24 They burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
6:25 However, Rahab the harlot and her father's household and all she had, Joshua spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, for she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
Now they lived as one of the people of Jehovah, as they had placed their trust in Jehovah.
6:26 Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, "Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates."
6:27 So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame was in all the land.
Two things are presented here, one is the curse upon Jericho. The other is that the whole land now lived in fear of Joshua and the people of Jehovah.
One closing note is that Rahab, a harlot from Moab, would marry Salmon.
Matthew 1:5 Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.
Rahab the harlot would become the great grandmother of David and in the lineage of Jesus Christ. She would always be referred to as Rahab the harlot. Jehovah can take anyone from their past and bring them into His family.
More next Saturday.
Last week we studied the mixed multitude and Jehovah declaring the same Law for everyone. Circumcision was the sign of the covenant, therefore all males who desired to join the family of Jehovah needed to be circumcised. What else has Jehovah given us to help us look at the variety of ethnic backgrounds within His family? Let us now look into the history of Jericho and Rahab.
Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there.
All the kings of the land were well aware of the vast people of Israel coming toward their land, which Jehovah had promised to Israel. Often, it was the a harlot’s home that served as an inn for travelers.
2:2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land."
2:3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land."
As large as Jericho was and how many travelers must have come and gone each day, still these two men were noticed. They knew these men had entered her home and were spies. Her life was on the line.
2:4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 2:5 "It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them."
Rahab created a lie and sent these men in the opposite direction. Why?
2:6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 2:7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
2:8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof,
2:9 and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you.
Rahab had a plan and a desire for the safety of her family. The crossing of the Red Sea was 40 years earlier. Yet, the peoples of the land had not forgotten it and lived in fear because of it.
2:10 "For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
2:11 "When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath.
Here we read that Rahab believed in Jehovah and declared to them that He alone is God. No one read the Torah to her. No one came to witness to her. Jehovah alone called her out of the terrible sin of Jericho into His family.
2:12 "Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth,
2:13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death."
2:14 So the men said to her, "Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the LORD gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you."
2:15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.
She set forth an agreement that would benefit both of them
2:16 She said to them, "Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way."
She gave them their escape route and provided the means to leave Jericho.
2:17 The men said to her, "We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 2:18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father's household.
2:19 "It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him.
The men gave her their requirements. Her obedience was on her shoulders.
2:20 "But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear."
2:21 She said, "According to your words, so be it." So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
She agreed to all their terms and immediately tied the cord to her window.
2:22 They departed and came to the hill country, and remained there for three days until the pursuers returned. Now the pursuers had sought them all along the road, but had not found them.
2:23 Then the two men returned and came down from the hill country and crossed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they related to him all that had happened to them.
They returned safely and gave Joshua all the details, including the details of Rahab’s help.
2:24 They said to Joshua, "Surely the LORD has given all the land into our hands; moreover, all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before us."
Joshua now had personal confirmation of how Jehovah had gone ahead to them to prepare the way into the Promised Land.
The rest of the story of Rahab the harlot next Saturday.
We left with Jacob blessing the sons of Joseph in Egypt. Let us now continue to discern the mixed multitude and their role in the soon to be nation of Israel. How did Jehovah set forth the conditions of being brought into fellowship and were there any examples? We can find valuable information in the Exodus story and the first Passover.
Exodus 12:43 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover: no foreigner is to eat of it; 12:44 but every man's slave purchased with money, after you have circumcised him, then he may eat of it.
First no stranger or foreigner can just come into the camp or later into Jerusalem and participate in the Passover. But, a slave or permanent member of someone’s household, can participate only if they have been circumcised. Circumcision is the sign of the covenant Jehovah made with Abraham. Who by the way, was not Jewish.
12:45 "A sojourner or a hired servant shall not eat of it. Again, those just passing thru, if not circumcised, could not participate.
12:46 "It is to be eaten in a single house; you are not to bring forth any of the flesh outside of the house, nor are you to break any bone of it.
12:47 "All the congregation of Israel are to celebrate this.
The whole congregation was to celebrate this memorial celebration. It was a shadow of the coming of the One who would forever save or redeem His people.
12:48 "But if a stranger sojourns with you, and celebrates the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near to celebrate it; and he shall be like a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
Again, the emphasis is on circumcision. This event of circumcision was not simple or easy. It was painful and permanent. You would most likely only go through with this if you truly believed in Jehovah. Of course, we may think that evil, unscrupulous men might do this just to gain access to the people and their money.
12:49 "The same law shall apply to the native as to the stranger who sojourns among you."
The same law means no preferential treatment or viewing others as less important than yourself. Most believe that this was instituted by Jesus, but it has always been part of the plan of Jehovah.
12:50 Then all the sons of Israel did so; they did just as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron.
12:51 And on that same day the LORD brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.
So here is the confirmation of the timing of this revelation, the same day they left Egypt.
As there were most likely a sizable number in the mixed multitude, Jehovah wanted everyone to know that He does not treat others solely on ethnicity.
More next Saturday.