Food in the Garden
I gave them My statutes, and made my judgments known to them, by whose observance man shall live. Ezekiel 20:11 (Hebrew World)
Man – Perhaps you find this statement in Ezekiel as startling as I do. God, speaking to disobedient Israel, has the perfect opportunity to clear up the issue of Torah application. He could say, “by whose observance Israel shall live,” but He doesn’t . Instead, He uses the word ha-adam, the class noun meaning Mankind or all men. God addresses Israel (“I gave them My statutes”) but concludes that these statutes and judgments were intended for an audience much larger than the tiny nation of Israel. They were for everyone!
Unfortunately, translator bias gets in the way of this conclusion. If you look up this verse in the KJV or the NASB, you’ll quickly discover that the idea that God’s instructions to Israel are for everyone is just slightly altered. “Man” becomes “a man” as if the verse applies only to those men who choose to follow God’s path. In the NIV, the verse retains the definite article (“the”) but shifts the meaning so that applies only to the man who obeys them. All these English translations make it appear as if only men of Israel are involved. But ha-adam is exactly the same expression used in Genesis to describe all Mankind. What allows us to alter the reading so that in Ezekiel ha-adam means only men of Israel? Nothing except theological bias.
Once we’ve settled this translation issue, there’s an even bigger problem. How could God have expected that all men would live by the biblical code of conduct if only Israel was the recipient of God’s directions? Were God’s dietary instructions intended for everyone, but secretly revealed only to Israel? Does the same cover up occur with statutes about sacrifices, worship, relationship – even forgiveness and redemption?
To answer this question we have to ask, “Why did God choose Israel?” Immediately we discover that God chose Israel to be a nation of priests. God chose Israel to lead the rest of the world into alignment with His instructions. Israel’s job was to teach everyone else what God demanded and how to live accordingly. Obviously, Israel didn’t do a great job of fulfilling that requirement. Not only did Israel adopt the false and idolatrous ways of the world instead of reforming the world according to God’s directions, Israel eventually insulated itself from the world, maintaining its hold on the one true God but ignoring its calling to become a light to the world. So, in due time, God sent His Son to call Israel back to its original mission. “Have I not come to the house of Israel?” isn’t just about the fact that the Messiah is Jewish. It’s about the grand design – that Israel was supposed to teach all men God’s statutes and judgments.
And so are all who are adopted into the household of Israel. Once we become a part of Israel, once we are grafted into the commonwealth, we also inherit the directive. We are to teach the world God’s statues and ordinances, by words and by example. God’s plan is always one to many. He gave Israel what it needed to bring the rest of the nations to Him. We are now accountable for that same mission. The ultimate goal has always been the same – back to the Garden. The objective has never varied. Live according to God’s instructions. Evangelism is the process through which I return others to alignment with His path.
Topical Index: man, ha-adam, mankind, Torah, statutes, Ezekiel 20:11
Thanks Skip – once again a timely word. I go to a dinner tonight armed with this and ‘A company of One’ to share with some hungry people who are asking why is it for us too? I marvel at the times we are living in – YHWH is surely gathering His people and them to gather other people! Please pray for me to speak the words He would have me say.
P.S. your daughter is beautiful…you and your wife must be so proud….Proverbs 31: 30 + 31.
Christine
“Then the Spirit led Yeshua up into the wilderness to be tempted by the Adversary. After Yeshua had fasted forty days and nights, He was hungry. The Tempter came and said to Him, “If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread.”But He answered, “The Tanakh says, `Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of ADONAI'” (Matthew 4.1-4)
It is worthwhile to remember, Yeshua, the Living Word, the Son of G-d, lived his entire thirty-three year life here on this green planet, as a man. He lived as Ha-Adam. He was the Second Adam, only this time- it was done right! He showed us, demonstrated to us, fleshed-out to us- how to live. And three times, not once, not twice, but three times- He said (are we listening?) “It is written.” Yeshua quoted the scriptures often. So should we. He knew the Writings. But not only did He know the Writings- He lived accordingly, a life of complete obedience to them. As far as I know- the only ONE ever to completely “shema” the instructions of YHWH. The rest of us have failed, and as the scriptures say, to offend in one point is to be guilty of all.. “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” (James 2.10)
What is the purpose of the law? “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3.24) “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” (Romans 7.7)
The law sets a mighty high standard. “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19.7,8) Now I don’t know, but this sounds like something good! Wisdom, joy, light.. -and w’ere just getting started!
“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103) “Your words were found, and I did eat them; and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15.16)
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17.17)
Holy words long preserved
for our walk in this world,
They resound with God’s own heart.
Oh let the ancient words impart
Words of Life, words of Hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where e’er we roam
Ancient words will guide us Home.
Ancient words ever true
Changing me and changing you,
We have come with open hearts
Oh let the ancient words impart
Holy words of our Faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.
Ancient Words
(Michael W. Smith)
Thank you Skip! Your word is so timely… Only yesterday I was talking ‘food’ with a believer concerned about her weight. This morning as I jogged, I felt convicted to speak to her about the Lord’s food instructions given us in Torah. I appreciate this added insight from Ezekiel. Thanks
Re Israel – Skip, this is not getting at you by any means, but it is dealing with the legacy we have inherited over the years re how we perceive Israel. Please permit me as I feel the need to say something. I sometimes feel that the argument about Israel (having failed/not failed) is fallacious, for how can we have benefited (Rom 11:17-18), and still call it failure? Either Israel has failed or Israel has not failed. If Israel has failed, then how did we ever receive the Scriptures and learnt about the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – or is it that it is the God of Noah that we actually know as is often suggested – even by the Rabbis re the Noahide laws?! Did any Gentile bring the message to us?
I would like to submit that in God’s plan – Israel did not fail. The nation became exactly what it would have become seeing the faithful and the unfaithful both comprises the nation. However, was it not the faithful – the prophets and umpteen others not even mentioned in Scriptures – that preserved the testimony of the Living God since the time God called Abraham? Wasn’t it the Apostles, all Israelites (Luke, a convert…) that brought the message to us non-Israelites? And even then – only after being anointed! No ordinary Israelite can bring the message of salvation for it is a message conveyed only in the power of the Holy Spirit. Are we saying that Israel / God could have done better? Perhaps ‘failure’ is the wrong word. We know that some Israelites were disobedient, even many! But isn’t that the same dilemma with us? Besides, Paul remind us that Israel’s stumbling (not failure…), did not pose a problem for God for He had a ‘remnant according to the election of grace’ (Rom 11:5). Israel did stumble at the stumbling Stone – but that’s not failure, its only the natural human response to Messiah – either receiving Him or rejecting Him. Shouldn’t we perhaps shift our thinking and our hearts on how we think about Israel? The unbelievers in the nation were never the ones to carry the message. The believers were and did! Isn’t that what Naomi did in Moab, why Ruth clung to her? It seems to me that as long as we see Israel as having failed we are in danger of giving place to a latent Gentile anti-Semitism. Israel is about to face the battle for its life (perhaps the last battle). If there is any danger of something lurking in us we need to know…
I would welcome comments.
Some interesting comments, Arnella, and a refreshing perspective. In the wider picture I think that the very fact that Israel preserved the words of God in spite of their various well-documented stumblings (and you’re right, they’re common to the entire human race, me included) is a living testimony of the grace of YHVH towards His people and His creation.
The scriptures teach that Israel was to be come a “nation of priests”, but because of their hardness of heart and their propensity (like us) towards disobedience and idolatry they instead became a nation with priests. We have all benefited through God’s relationship with Israel, both their successes and their failures. I do think though that again it says more about God’s grace than man’s success in achieving God’s purposes. In spite of their brokenness, God still honoured his covenant promise to Abraham that “…in your offspring shall all nations of the world will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” God is a God who keeps his covenant promises, and we are still beneficiaries of that covenant today.
I am reminded of Paul’s comments in his letter to the Jewish community in Rome:
Israel may have “missed the mark” so to speak, but God didn’t. Nevertheless, I think that you’re right that we have to be careful in how we think and speak of Israel, that we do not exalt ourselves above them or think less of them because they stumbled along the way.
Thanks Rodney. I appreciate your response. Now I wish there was a forum for us to speak for your reply makes me want to say some other things… This much I would say – we in the West have never been tested concerning what is in our heart toward the Jew and Israel. The last ‘test’ was Germany and Europe. The time to be tested is now here a generation later, for America and all us believers on this side. For us it cannot just be a matter of being ‘careful in how we think and speak of Israel’ for whatever is in the heart is precisely what will come forth. We must find out what is truly in our heart. That is why this idea of Israel’s failure, or of ‘missing the mark’ if you may, needs to be traced to its real root. Has Israel indeed failed? I submit that the answer is ‘No’. Israel has been disobedient and has answered, is answering and will yet answer to God for that – hence the exiles etc. But failure? No. Perish the thought! Any other answer, I am submitting, could be an insidious form of anti-Semitism even supercessionism. The enemy is subtle…
How shocking it was to see Christian (Protestant and Catholic) Europe assisting Hitler. We do not want to be part of an Hebraic Roots America assisting the same cause, for Hitler’s friends are already in our midst. But we will unless we get our ‘heart theology’ right.
Looking forward
Your comment is most appreciated. Yes, we often speak of Israel’s failure, but of course, that implies something that does not fit into the providence of God. Israel has a covenant with YHWH. Gentiles are the beneficiaries of that covenant. They have always been since the time of Sinai. Israel is a nation of priests, and Yeshua calls Israel back to that purpose. But priests serve as intercessors for others, so in this regard, Israel’s disobedience furthers God’s providence. Not that God intended Israel to disobey. Had Israel fulfilled its original purpose perfectly, Gentiles would have come into the Kingdom sooner and with more effectiveness. But God’s purposes prevail even if delayed. So, Israel did not fail to provide a way for God to open the floodgates of grace to all. Thanks for your insight.
“all men would live by the biblical code …. always one to many”
Hmmm
On a more or less serious note, the comments above make me think of one of my favorites movies.
Repo Man is a 1984 cult film directed by Alex Cox.
The line that always stuck in my mind was the following:
“That’s what I call the repo code, kid.
Don’t forget it, etch it in your brain.
Not many people got a code to live by anymore.” – Bud
The “hero” of the film, Otto Maddox (Emilio Estevez), is a young punk rocker living in Los Angeles.
Otto falls in with Bud (Harry Dean Stanton), a seasoned repossession agent, or “repo man,” working for a small automobile repossession agency.
The funny thing for me is that my dad’s name was Alan Dean O’Hara and when I was young, my dad was a repo man for GMAC.
The “Stantons” were relatives of his family, and my dad’s best friend was named Bud.
Bud’s son, Michael D. Hallmark, is like a brother to me, and when he was young he acted a lot like Otto Maddox.
By the time I got out of high school, my dad was a finance manager at GMAC and one of my first jobs was working as a kind a “gofer” driving cars for the repo men who worked for my dad.
When I got to graduate school, I studied structural linguistics and found the concepts of “everything is a text” and “subtexts” very interesting.
The older I get the more I see that a lot of the texts in Western Civilization all seem to go back to one subtext.
And that one subtext is called the “biblical code,” aka the Torah.
Skip has presented a clear “mission” statement. Once the mission statement is given, it is incumbent upon the “soldiers” to execute the mission; that is, DO IT!
Imagine coming out of school and having a wise person offering you two points; they point you where to start and point you in a direction. What would that be worth? Now imagine you are that wise person, and the Creator has uniquely positioned you geographically, culturally, and socially. How valuable is that? It seems to me the Creator chose Israel – both those who are naturally attached and those wild ones grafted in – to be the wise pointer for the whole Earth.
Great comments above.
Isn’t the Law, the cross roads here, the virtual cross itself? I have heard some good preaching about dying to self in order to serve as Christ did and then the concept is somewhat soiled when we look at the 4th commandment. Israel as a whole, fails to maintain the spirit of the Law in Christ and thereby sins by lawkeeping without faith in Christ. Christianity, as a whole, fails to recognize the significance of recognizing Christ as the ongoing manifestation of man’s ability to keep the Law and sins by breaking commands, actually murdering the commands.
Christ solidly established the promise of blessing contained in obeying the will of the Father. In this regard, not only has Israel “failed” in carrying it’s cross along the journey, but Christianity has apparently failed to wear the design of the cross by abolishing the Law.
YHWH declared His Law was not too difficult, Christianity declares it was so hard, no one but Christ could keep it, He did so and then did away with it on the cross. Since that time, the religion has morphed into do what you will (man knows best)…oh, sorry that was Anton Lavay. I do recognize this is a strong analogy, but look at what idolatry did for Israel and look at our “Christian” nation, would you? Thank YHWHn for His remnant!