6.11.25
Good morning!
At Passover, we recognize the crucifixion of our Messiah, who came to sit his people free. During the counting of the omer, we Use the 49 days to prepare us for our covenantal encounter at Mount Sinai(Ex. 19-24; Acts2-3). It’s between these two events that the disciples ask Yeshua is this the time when you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel(Acts1:6)?
It's the time of year where our identity is restored. It's a time of year when we remember. It's a time of year for fresh revelation. It's another opportunity to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. It's a time to light up the world by living out the activities that bring light to the world. It’s a time where we get the privilege of living our identity as branches in the vine (Jn 15).
Let’s go back to the first mentioned Passover, we find Moses approaching Pharaoh saying, in Exodus 4:22 “Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son“
It's the time of year where the first born are emphasized! We have a tendency to believe that Yahweh often spoke of Israel as His son, but this isn’t the case. In fact, there are only two places in the Tanakh where Yahweh refers to Israel as “My son.” The first is here in this verse and the next. The second is in Hosea 11:1. Why would this be? And could this be connected to Romans, one 14 that those were led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God? Our mistaken conclusion about the frequency of His description of Israel as His son probably comes from the fact that Matthew uses the Hosea passage as a Messianic prophecy (Matthew 2:15). But the truth is that this expression is quite rare. Simply put itis used in Exodus because Yahweh is confronting another being who also claims to be a god, namely Pharaoh, and as we soon find out, the issue of The first bornson becomes a critical battle line in Yahweh’s war against the Egyptian deities; The 10 plates.
The Hebrew phrase, benai y Israel tells us something crucial about Israel’s place in Yahweh's creation. First, it tells us He considers Israel as the elected heir of His purposes. Second, this phrase clearly places Israel in an exclusive relationship with Himself as a part of His family. In conjunction with Yahweh's declaration that Israel is His firstborn, we realize that no other people or nation can ever occupy this place in His heart. When Yahweh established His covenant with Israel at Sinai, the implications stretched across the entire history of humanity. The promise to Abraham was to be fulfilled in the nation of Israel and in all those who attached themselves to that nation (Eph. 2:12-22). That promise is still being fulfilled today.
The Writers of the apostolic scriptures adopt this same language in reference to Yeshua. This is particularly important since the expression is used so infrequently in the Tanakh. As these authors report, Yeshua steps into the place of Israel and fulfills the commission originally intended for Yahweh's chosen people. He becomes what they refused to become – a royal priest to the nations. His mission was rehabilitation And restoration(Acts 3:20-21). He came to bring Israel back to the assignment Yahweh gave them. That’s why He says He has come only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. 10:5). They are lost because they don’t know who they are as the ones called to open the door to the nations. They have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing. They are lost because they have wandered away from their identity as priests to the nations (Ex. 19:3-8). Yeshua restores this missing perspective. Peter acknowledges this restoration when he proclaims that the event on the temple mount (Acts 2) is a sign of Yahweh's Spirit poured out on All nations.The door has been opened – again.
What does this mean for Gentiles? It means that Israel is still the First bornson. There is no justification for saying that Israel has been replaced with some other First born. That would be impossible. It also means that those who are led by the Spirit become sons with the same covenant and commission as the First born. The First born son is the model we follow – the model of Israel and subsequently, the model of Israel renewed in Yeshua. Just as Israel was commissioned to be a royal priesthood to the nations, so are all sons. A priest is the intercessor between Yahweh and men, instructing men what Yahweh demands of them in order to join in fellowship at His table. And that’s what we are supposed to be doing now. In fact, if we do that according to the original commission, we Grafted in Gentiles will spur those born from Abraham’s lineage to recognize that the door is really open. Our actions will induce Israel to look at our claim to follow Yeshua The Messiah as valid because we will be doing what Yahweh assigned to His son.
The First Born have been set free by the blood of the Lamb! Where it appears that dictatorship is taking place in America, It’s time, more than ever, to live as priests to the nations.
Today is the 11th day of counting towards the first fruit of the Wine. Continue to abide in him and let his word abide you and you will bring Fourth abundant fruit, the father will be glorified, and people will see your light as first born sons, impacting the world.
Shalom,
Alan
It's the time of year where our identity is restored. It's a time of year when we remember. It's a time of year for fresh revelation. It's another opportunity to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. It's a time to light up the world by living out the activities that bring light to the world. It’s a time where we get the privilege of living our identity as branches in the vine (Jn 15).
Let’s go back to the first mentioned Passover, we find Moses approaching Pharaoh saying, in Exodus 4:22 “Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son“
It's the time of year where the first born are emphasized! We have a tendency to believe that Yahweh often spoke of Israel as His son, but this isn’t the case. In fact, there are only two places in the Tanakh where Yahweh refers to Israel as “My son.” The first is here in this verse and the next. The second is in Hosea 11:1. Why would this be? And could this be connected to Romans, one 14 that those were led by the spirit of God they are the sons of God? Our mistaken conclusion about the frequency of His description of Israel as His son probably comes from the fact that Matthew uses the Hosea passage as a Messianic prophecy (Matthew 2:15). But the truth is that this expression is quite rare. Simply put itis used in Exodus because Yahweh is confronting another being who also claims to be a god, namely Pharaoh, and as we soon find out, the issue of The first bornson becomes a critical battle line in Yahweh’s war against the Egyptian deities; The 10 plates.
The Hebrew phrase, benai y Israel tells us something crucial about Israel’s place in Yahweh's creation. First, it tells us He considers Israel as the elected heir of His purposes. Second, this phrase clearly places Israel in an exclusive relationship with Himself as a part of His family. In conjunction with Yahweh's declaration that Israel is His firstborn, we realize that no other people or nation can ever occupy this place in His heart. When Yahweh established His covenant with Israel at Sinai, the implications stretched across the entire history of humanity. The promise to Abraham was to be fulfilled in the nation of Israel and in all those who attached themselves to that nation (Eph. 2:12-22). That promise is still being fulfilled today.
The Writers of the apostolic scriptures adopt this same language in reference to Yeshua. This is particularly important since the expression is used so infrequently in the Tanakh. As these authors report, Yeshua steps into the place of Israel and fulfills the commission originally intended for Yahweh's chosen people. He becomes what they refused to become – a royal priest to the nations. His mission was rehabilitation And restoration(Acts 3:20-21). He came to bring Israel back to the assignment Yahweh gave them. That’s why He says He has come only for the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matt. 10:5). They are lost because they don’t know who they are as the ones called to open the door to the nations. They have forgotten what they were supposed to be doing. They are lost because they have wandered away from their identity as priests to the nations (Ex. 19:3-8). Yeshua restores this missing perspective. Peter acknowledges this restoration when he proclaims that the event on the temple mount (Acts 2) is a sign of Yahweh's Spirit poured out on All nations.The door has been opened – again.
What does this mean for Gentiles? It means that Israel is still the First bornson. There is no justification for saying that Israel has been replaced with some other First born. That would be impossible. It also means that those who are led by the Spirit become sons with the same covenant and commission as the First born. The First born son is the model we follow – the model of Israel and subsequently, the model of Israel renewed in Yeshua. Just as Israel was commissioned to be a royal priesthood to the nations, so are all sons. A priest is the intercessor between Yahweh and men, instructing men what Yahweh demands of them in order to join in fellowship at His table. And that’s what we are supposed to be doing now. In fact, if we do that according to the original commission, we Grafted in Gentiles will spur those born from Abraham’s lineage to recognize that the door is really open. Our actions will induce Israel to look at our claim to follow Yeshua The Messiah as valid because we will be doing what Yahweh assigned to His son.
The First Born have been set free by the blood of the Lamb! Where it appears that dictatorship is taking place in America, It’s time, more than ever, to live as priests to the nations.
Today is the 11th day of counting towards the first fruit of the Wine. Continue to abide in him and let his word abide you and you will bring Fourth abundant fruit, the father will be glorified, and people will see your light as first born sons, impacting the world.
Shalom,
Alan
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