One of a Kind
“Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” Exodus 4:22 NASB
My son – We have a tendency to believe that God often spoke of Israel as His son, but this isn’t the case. In fact, there are only two places in the Tanakh where God refers to Israel as “My son.” The first is here in this verse and the next. The second is in Hosea 11:1. Our mistaken conclusion about the frequency of God’s 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. It is used in Exodus because YHWH is confronting another being who also claims to be a god, namely Pharaoh, and as we soon find out, the issue of the firstborn son becomes a critical battle line in YHWH’s war against the Egyptian deities.
The Hebrew phrase, beni Yisra’el, tells us something crucial about Israel’s place in God’s creation. First, it tells us God considers Israel as the elected heir of His purposes. Second, this phrase clearly places Israel in an exclusive relationship with God as a part of God’s family. In conjunction with God’s declaration that Israel is His “firstborn,” we realize that no other people or nation can ever occupy this place in God’s heart. Many may be adopted but none except Israel can be “firstborn.” When God 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. That promise is still being fulfilled today.
The New Testament authors adopt this same language in reference to Yeshua. This is particularly important since the expression is used so infrequently in the Tanakh. As the New Testament authors report, Yeshua steps into the place of Israel and fulfills the commission originally intended for God’s chosen people. He becomes what they refused to become – a royal priest to the nations. His mission was rehabilitation. He came to bring Israel back to the assignment God gave them. That’s why He says He has come to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 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 aren’t lost due to wandering away from their commitment to YHWH. Since Babylon they never went back to idolatry. They are lost because they have wandered away from their identity as priests to the nations. 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 God’s spirit poured out on all nations. The door has been opened – again.
What does this mean for Gentiles, people like most of us? It means that Israel is still the firstborn son. There is no justification for saying that Israel has been replaced with some other “firstborn.” That would be impossible. It also means that those who are adopted become sons with the same covenant and commission as the firstborn. The firstborn 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 adopted sons. A priest is the intercessor between God and men, instructing men what God 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 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 HaMashiach as valid because we will be doing what God assigned to His son.
Topical Index: my son, beni, firstborn, Israel, priest, Exodus 4:22, Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:15
For (because) G-d so loved the world, He gave His only begotten (firstborn) Son..that “whosoever” believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3.16)
This is nothing short of a controversial verse from our Bible. -“but we preach the Messiah crucified. He is a stumbling block to Jews and nonsense to gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1.23)
And then there is this “heart prayer” from Rabbi Sha’ul: “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.” Saved? Saved from what? We (already) are the chosen ones,- the people, the children of G-d. Just look at our history. G-d is (already) on our side!.
Yeshua said unto Nicodemus, (whose name is “Superior”), a ruler of the Jews, the original “Nick at nite”, -“you must be born again.”
John 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
John 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from G-d: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except G-d be with him.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again [from above, spiritually], he cannot see the kingdom of G-d.
Except a man.. (any man)- Jew or Gentile..- we all must be “born again.”- Born from Above. Born twice, once physically- “Here I am”- and once spiritually- By grace, through faith, in the propitiating, atoning sacrifice of the Lamb of G-d, Yeshua HaMashiach, the ONE who gave His body and blood on the execution stake, Calvary’s cross. This blood is for you, and for me..- and for “whosoever will.” “This is the New Covenant in my blood” were (and are) His words.
Salvation/Deliverance is to the Jew first. He came unto His own. Unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The oppressed Jewish people (rightly) expected a Conquering King, a Super-man, the Messiah,- the Promised ONE.
My prayer is similar to Paul’s. My heart’s desire and prayer for Israel is that they would be saved. I want them, and us, and “whosever will” to know Jesus. I want them to know the Savior, the ONE who conquered death, sin, the grave and the Adversary. He did exactly as He set out to do. Mission 3:16 accomplished. “Paid in full.” The second Adam, the Son of man has purchased our freedom at the cost of His own blood, the blood of the Firstborn and the First-fruit of those who will (one day) rise from dead. “Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. (1 Corinthians 15.20)
We may now say also with a great host of witnesses – “O death, where is your sting? O grave where is your victory?” Christ was the death of Death. Victorious conquering King of kings and LORD of lords- Name above all names- this is our Sovereign Savior, the Lamb of G-d, the Sent ONE, the Second Adam, the firstborn Son of G-d.
How are we to reach the nations with the good news? How are we to tell them of ONE who has conquered through His birth, His life, His death, burial and resurrection?
“Then I heard the voice of the LORD saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I, send me” (Isaiah 6:8)!
“Since Babylon they never went back to idolatry.”. Will the true Israel please stand up,
Are you just the people who follow Rabbinical Judaism (Rabbinical Judaism with a history grounded in a mixture of ancient Israelite worship and “religious” teachings of men)?. Are you people with Rabbinical mandate Jewish maternal lineage? Or people also with paternal Jewish lineage? Or people unaware they are descended from from the 10 lost tribes (Northern kingdom/Ephraim)? Anyone with the biological seed of Abraham? Religious Jews who worship the Babylonian Talmud and keep a Torah based on those traditions, including kabbalah? Secular Jews, of the biological seed of Abraham, who worship idols of money, sex, power, intellectualism, food, etc.? Gentiles and Jews who profess and believe Jesus/Yeshua/Yahshua/Yahushua is their Messiah whether they follow Torah or not? Gentiles and Jews who profess and believe Jesus/Yeshua/Yahshua/Yahushua is their Messiah whether they follow Torah or not and worship idols of money, sex, power, intellectualism, food, etc? Born again, Spirit empowered, working in the gifts? Born again, Spirit filled doers of the Word? Gentiles and Jews who profess and believe Jesus/Yeshua/Yahshua/Yahushua is their Messiah and observe Scriptural Torah?
Robin
There may be more than one answer to all your questions. But this seems like a good place to start, according to Sha’ul, the Pharisee, echoing the words of Torah (Deut. 10:16, 30:6) and the prophet Jeremiah (4:4) recorded in Romans 2:
28 For the real Jew is not merely Jewish outwardly: true circumcision is not only external and physical. 29 On the contrary, the real Jew is one inwardly; and true circumcision is of the heart, spiritual not literal; so that his praise comes not from other people but from God.
Yeshua said we’d know them by their fruit – not their parentage, their religious affiliation, or their claims of super spirituality. In fact, to those who claimed to prophesy, to expel demons, to perform miracles, Yeshua never said they did not do these things. He simply responded, “Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matt. 7:22-29).
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Excellent questions Robin!- How do we learn except by asking? – and He has said, -“ask and you will receive!”- seek (intently,intentionally) and you will find; knock (patiently, persistently) and you will find!
“When the student is ready, the Teacher will show up!” -Today, I will listen, and I wil learn..
Some are hoping to be picked in the draft. Not me. I made the graft.
Yes, Robin — and add to that Karaites, Netazarim or Nazarenes, and others who claim to be the “original faith”. How do we graft ourselves into Israel if we cannot locate her?
Great response!
Rather than trying to find the “original faith” (yeah, lots of luck with that in any religion), perhaps you graft yourself into the Living Word, the Etz Chaim, who is Yeshua our Messiah.
By the way, I’d like to take the time to wish everyone a wonderful Passover. Next Monday evening Jews all over the world will be remembering the great deliverance out of Egypt as millions attend seders. My prayer is that their hearts will be open to the truth of who Yeshua is–our ultimate deliverer and Savior. May Yeshua reveal His truth to them. May we all prepare our hearts to remove the chametz–leaven–from our lives and may we always remember and be grateful for our deliverance and freedom in Messiah.
I agree, be grafted into Yeshua, the Tree of Life.
I’m wondering and asking how is one ‘grafted into Yeshua’? What would make me acceptable to YHWH? How do I become included in table fellowship with his people? What is the process? How do we become ‘grafted in’, included, adopted, received as a member of God’s family? I ask because it gets confusing for me sometimes as I hear differing answers to this one from Christian teachers and from Messianic-Jewish believers. There are dividing lines drawn and I don’t know whether I’m ‘in’ or ‘out’.
“how is one ‘grafted into Yeshua’?”
Hi Wendy,
I think this metaphor is interesting and has something to do with the olive tree and our relationship to Judaism.
But I think reading the Bible from end to end and having a personal relationship with Yahweh God are more important.
As Yeshua taught us, being in or out with Yahweh is the only thing that counts in the end 🙂
Hello Wendy,
Thank you for your response. I hear your confusion. How do believe you are grafted in? The way I got grafted in was after many years of twisted living. I had reached a point of complete despair. This was about 24 years ago. I had been on a sincere search for God through many new age, occult and eastern philosophies. I went from one to another, having many extraordinary experiences but without satisfaction. All of this culminated, through my unwise choices, in a very traumatic experience. I was brought
low and called out to God. Shortly thereafter, circumstances were arranged that I would be receptive to accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I really had no idea what that would actually entail but I desperately wanted security and rest that was promised. I made that confession of faith and was grafted in that very second. I was a dramatic person and therefore I had a dramatic salvation experience. I am not the person I used to be. If you want to know more I can be contacted at robin@vibrantcuisine.com
Thanks Robin and Michael for your responses to my question. I so appreciate your kindness. Blessings to you both.
Wendy,
It is my view that we become grafted in the moment we come to the point of accepting Yeshua as Messiah and saviour, repenting (turning from our ways towards God’s ways) and believing the promises of God that He will save, deliver, protect and provide for us.
From that point on, we are then supposed to learn how to live according to His instructions and in a way that brings glory to His name. Note that I said “learn how to live” – this is an ongoing (life-long) process. None of us get it right, none of us fully understand. Baby steps, one at a time.
Remember, Yeshua came to do the work of redemption the first time, at the Passover. Just as He redeemed His people out of Egypt, so He redeemed us from the curse of sin by becoming the Lamb of God and the atoning sacrifice.
Salvation will come at His return, when He saves us out of the tribulation and brings us back to the land He promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His covenant still stands.
Eph 2:11-13, 19-22 ESV – [11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands– [12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. … [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Rom 11:13, 16-18, 23-24, 30-31 ESV – [13] Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. … [16] If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches. [17] But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, [18] do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. … [23] And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. … [30] For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, [31] so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. [32] For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.
The word “consigned” is the Greek work sunkleio, Strongs 4788. Vines expository dictionary says this:
The key is believe (and I’m sure Skip has done previous “Today’s Word” articles on that one…) – believe in the promises of God, trust that He is completely faithful and trustworthy to fulfill His promises and then, because of His grace and mercy (not to earn it, but because it is freely given), live and act accordingly.