The Real Israel

        I had posted a blog explaining the truth about the true identity of the State of Israel. The State of Israel is the country of modern-day, biblical Judah. The State of Israel is not Modern-day, biblical Israel. I had explained that the Land of Israel belongs to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Jacob/Israel’s descendants, but the Jews are only descendants of Judah that have intermixed with two other tribes of Jacob/Israel: Benjamin and Levi. Who and where are the other descendants of Jacob today? Jacob had 12 sons by 4 wives, and even adopted the two sons of Joseph—who were born from an Egyptian mother. However, if The State of Israel is not Israel biblically, who is Israel today? It will take some time to explain the answer, and I will have to start with Jacob’s sons.

        Now, I did mention that Jacob wrestled with Esau for the blessings of the first born—should it be no surprise that Jacob’s sons would do the same? Reuben was the first born of Jacob, and he was born by Leah. He forfeited the blessing of the first born because he laid with Zilpah—Jacob’s wife! However, Joseph was the first born by Rachel. Over the course of Joseph’s youth, he inherited the blessing of the first born, and he received a coat of many colors as a sign of that inheritance. Well, Joseph’s brothers became envious of him. Problem was: they weren’t proving to God that they wanted the blessing of the first born—even though it could have been given to Dan or Gad as well as Reuben.

 

        The envy of Joseph only gotten worse when he received two dreams from God—explained in Genesis 37: 5-10. The first was about sheaves: Joseph’s sheaves stood upright, and his brother’s sheaves bowed down to his. The second dream was different because there was the sun, the moon, and 11 stars, but they were still bowing to Joseph. These dreams were definitely prophetic. However, being envious of Joseph’s calling of being their master, his brothers got even more bitter—even to the point of wanting to kill him. Jacob just kept Joseph’s dreams in mind. But Joseph’s 11 brothers wouldn’t let it go, and they attempted to kill him. If it wasn’t for Reuben and Judah’s intervention, they would have. Joseph was sold into Egyptian slavery because of God’s plan to send Joseph to Egypt to save many people.

         In Egypt, Joseph became the prime minster of Egypt in his days because of God’s gift of interpreting dreams. God warned the King of Egypt that He was sending 7 years of plentiful harvest followed by 7 years of famine. Joseph was placed in charge to make sure that there was food during the famine. God also allowed the Pharaoh to give Joseph a wife from the high priest of On. She gave birth to two sons: Manasseh and Ephraim. Interesting that the Hebrew meaning to Ephraim is “fruitfulness”, could it be that sheaves representing the descendants of Joseph’s brothers will bow down to Joseph’s son? And, those very same descendants—symbolized by the sun, moon, and 11 stars—will do the same for Joseph’s other son: Manasseh? That would mean that all of the descendants of Joseph’s brothers will be living under the rule of Joseph’s descendants—within nations’ descendant from Ephraim and Manasseh, within the world of nations, or both. I believe: both.

        How can Joseph’s brothers be subject to his sons? How does this relate to the name of Israel: Joseph’s father? Well, while the famine was going on, Jacob went down to Egypt with his entire household, and he saw Joseph’s two sons before he died. Jacob did a ceremony for Joseph’s sons in Genesis 48. Jacob put his right hand on Ephraim’s head—even though he wasn’t the first born. The right hand is the more dominate hand, and that means that the first born blessings will go to the child with the right hand first before the left hand. Manasseh was the first born, but Jacob had his left hand on the child. This is the blessing that Jacob/Israel gave to them in verse 15-16:

        “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
      The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,

 ¹⁶ The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
      Bless the lads;
      Let my name be named upon them,
      And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
      And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

        Noticed how Jacob/Israel prayed to God that his name—Jacob/Israel—be named upon them, that’s key because the state of Israel wasn’t named after the people but after the land itself. Jacob gave his name to Ephraim and Manasseh as well as their descendants. This means that modern-day, biblical Israel have to be nations descendant from Ephraim and Manasseh. Who are they today? Let’s look to the bible first. In Verse 19, Jacob was responding to Joseph’s legitimate defense of Manasseh because he was the first-born, and Jacob said:

“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

        What’s being said is this: Manasseh will be a great, single nation, and Ephraim would be a multitude of nations. Actually, the words translated ‘multitude of nations’ means “Fullness of the Gentiles”—in other words, an Empire that’s over Israelite and non-Israelite peoples. These are your clues to finding who Ephraim and Manasseh are today. Now, keep in mind that Ephraim received the birthright blessings before Manasseh did—that will also help in finding out who they are. Another clue in finding them is God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: somehow Ephraim and Manasseh would have some way of acknowledging that covenant. Using these three clues, it’s time to show you who Israel are today.

Since God gave the name of Israel to Ephraim first, we will start searching for them first. Ephraim would be an Empire that would reach the fullness of the gentiles, and they would acknowledge God’s covenant. Well, the word in Hebrew that means ‘covenant’ is “Berit”. If you take out the ‘e’, you get “Brit”—umm sounds familiar. It is familiar: it’s the first syllable to ‘British’. In Hebrew, British means ‘covenant man’—looks like we have an acknowledgement of God’s covenant. Let’s dig deeper into the British. They had an Empire that spread through 25% of the world’s land mass before World War II. It seems like they went into the Fullness of the Gentiles. That was the height of the British Empire. The British must be Ephraim. They were Israel until the inheritance of dominion was given to the United States after World War II. Wait, who are the Americans then?

Well, America has some of the same traits as the British: Language, customs, and legal system are very similar. However, America is very different than the British. America is a Republic; Britain is a Constitutional Monarchy. America has little empire ambition; Britain had a lot of empire ambition. America changes foreign policy depending on the leadership elected; Britain has a fairly consistent foreign policy. Another interesting difference to note is that America has the best land blessings, but the British have the most blessings for the “fruit of the womb”.

No wonder British means ‘Covenant Man’—the British Empire had 500 million subjects at the height of its power! However, the Hebrew name for the United States is: ‘Artzot Habrit’ meaning “Land of the Covenant”. It looks like the United State’s name acknowledges the covenant with God. Are we the single, great nation that Jacob was talking about? Let’s look at the history of America: God broke the British yoke after the American Revolution. By doing this, America inherited the land from sea to sea: a great landmass about the size of Australia. If the British are Ephraim and Ephraim received the blessings first before Manasseh, America receiving the land from sea to shining sea is the fulfillment of that because we came out of the British—whom already received their inheritance before America existed. We are that single, great nation; we are Manasseh.

Just as the British received their land inheritance before America did, so did they receive world dominion before America did. The British had it for nearly 200 years, and it was only recently in human history that the British fell. America received her inheritance of world dominion after World War II. For 200 years, the British Empire inherited the name: Israel. When the British fell before World War II, the British handed world dominion to the United States. Since the United States is Manasseh and Manasseh was to receive the inheritance after Ephraim, it would make since that God transferred the name of Israel to the United States after the British fell. What that means is this? The United States of America is Modern-day, Biblical Israel.

The Origins of Judah

         I titled this blog: “The Origins of Judah”. I know that will throw some of you off because there is no country in this world called Judah. However, most of the inhabitants in the nation called Israel are named Jews: יהודים. That does sound familiar to the biblical name Judah: יהודה. Huh, I wonder why David Ben-Gurion and the other founders of the modern state of Israel called it Israel instead of Judah. Even the Israeli Declaration of Independence makes a distinction between the people that inhabit the land, and the land itself.

“the Land of Israel, [Palestine] was the birthplace of the Jewish people.”  --Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel

        Yes, it’s true that Jews were tilling the ground since the early 20^th century, and it’s also true that the Zionists were buying land from Arabs in Palestine during the early 20^th century as well. However, Zionism wasn’t born in the land of Israel, but a Jewish nation was born in the land—it was born in ancient times. This nation (or, should I say: kingdom) was much older than Zionism. That kingdom was called the Kingdom of Judah; it was born in the land of Israel during the reign of King Rehoboam, son of Solomon. O reader, please understand that the land was already being cultivated by Israelities during the days of the Judges, Samuel, King Saul, King David, and King Solomon—before the kingdom of Judah ever existed! The land was given to Israel, and to his seed (keep that in mind), as a possession even before the days of Moses and Joshua—whom God instructed to lead the 12 tribes of Israel to the land flowing with milk and honey. Allow me to take you even further back in time to a place called Bethel.

Bethel was the place Jacob saw a vision of God, and this was the place Jacob’s anointed pillar stood—it still stands today. He was running from his brother, Esau, because Esau wanted to kill him for taking his blessing. In fact, Jacob supplanted Esau of the blessing of the first born: this blessing had to do with land possession. The first born receives the best land that God can offer. However, God told Rebekah: 

“Two nations are in thy womb, and two peoples shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.”

If you know the story, the firstborn came out hairy and his name became Esau. Esau’s younger brother was holding onto his heel as he was coming out. He was named Jacob, which means supplanter. 

        It makes you wonder why Jacob had to hold on to Esau’s heel during the birth process. It did say in Genesis 25:22: “But the children struggled together within her;”. The two brothers struggled against each other inside Rebekah’s womb. Esau came out first, but, in my opinion, he tried to force his brother to not come out—they were wrestling to get out of the womb first. Jacob had to protect himself by holding on to Esau’s heel. This is my own theory. You determine if it’s true or not. However, what is true is this: the brothers have been wrestling each other since they came out of the womb. Their descendants are still fighting each other in like-manner today. 

 

The Jews are descendants of Jacob: Judah, the 4^th son of Jacob by Leah. The Palestinians are descendants of Esau: Amalek, the grandson of Esau. Ever since the State of Israel came out of the womb of the British Empire, the Jews and Palestinians have been wrestling each other for the Holy land. They were wrestling each other inside the womb ever since the Belfour Declaration in 1926. The Belfour Declaration was a document written by the British to give the Jews a homeland in Palestine—even though Jews were buying land from Arabs before the Belfour Declaration. However, it’s not the British that gave that land to Judah’s descendants, but God did. The proof is in Genesis 35: 10-12: 

“¹⁰ And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel. ¹¹ Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. ¹² The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I give to you; and to your descendants after you I give this land.”

        God gave the land of Israel (Palestine) to Jacob’s descendants. That land today belongs to the Jews because they are descendants of Jacob. The land does not belong to any other people unless you are descendants of Jacob/Israel—only to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob/Israel, and Jacob/Israel’s descendants does the land belong too. As a side note, most Americans are descendants of Jacob: Jacob had 12 sons by 4 wives. However, the point is this: the Holy land is God’s land, and He gives it to whomever He wishes to give it too. No man determines who receives the land or not—only God has that right. God gave it to the Jews and to other people descendant from Jacob/Israel, and no one else unless they become God’s people: God’s children.

Power of Music

       I was listening to a concert after church service last week, and it was a most pleasant experience. It was full of joy, sorrow, love, and unity. How powerful real emotions can be?! Well, I say that music is another language: another way of expression. Americans speak in English, Israelis express themselves in Hebrew, and the Europeans have their many different languages. All of these languages express human intellect and our hearts. I contend that music is the best language to express the heart. Real emotions can be best articulated with the sound of a violin, a guitar, a piano, or—the best instrument of all—the human voice. You can even combine these instruments together to create a unique sound: a song.

        Well, I believe that music is the language of the heart. It is the best way to express how a person feels on the inside—when you can’t articulate it to anyone in anyway the mind can come up with. The push and pull of a song pushes and pulls the heart strings of an individual. We feel what is felt by the singer or musician. It could be anything from sorrow to joy, love to fear, or suffering to heroism. We can feel a love far away, or a love close to us. It’s an amazing gift from our Creator, but it’s a difficult set of talents to master. The best musicians take years to master it, and still they persevere to perfect the craft that God has given them

God gave the gift of music to individuals—do you believe that He’s a musician? A singer? (oh, He has the voice of many waters—God can sing.) A music-lover? You bet! Look at the psalms: these words were not poetry in the sense that we look at poetry today. It’s not filled with intense imagery as is common for poetry, but the words were written to be lyrical. The words were meant for singing: they’re song lyrics. These song lyrics weren’t just written without any harmony or rhythm. Some were written in harmony with an ancient guitar called the lyre (Keenor כנור]]: which I believe that’s what David had during his concerts with King Saul), some had brass instruments like a trumpet, and some with huge ensembles in mind. God loves good music.

        Yet, how powerful is music? I tell you the truth from a biblical perspective: music can rebuke spirits, make armies come against each other in there confusion, and music can, in its simplest and perfect form, praise and worship God. In 1 Samuel 16:14-23, Saul was troubled with a distressing spirit, and his servants called for David to play for him—which he did. The music was so pleasant to Saul that the spirit went away and he was refreshed. Now, how often do you play a song just for the purpose of rebuking a spirit? David knew what that’s like.

Another example is in 2 Chronicles 20:1-24, Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, was facing three enemy nations: Edom, Moab, and Ammon. Jehoshaphat gathered all the people to him, and proclaimed a fast for all the people in his kingdom in order to seek God’s help. God told the nation and the king through Jahaziel that He would deliver them—He told them what to do. The king and the people did what God told them to do, but what was amazing was that they stood by their enemies singing praises to God. While they were singing, God confused their enemies, and they killed each other. Don’t tell me music is not powerful!

        Not convinced? Alright, Acts 16:16-26, Paul and Silas were in Philippi preaching the gospel. They encounter a demon-possessed slave girl who kept annoying Paul. Paul rebuked the spirit out of the girl, and the merchants of the area were mad because she was helping them get rich. In their rage, they brought Paul and Silas to the local judge. They were both put into prison. While in prison, they did something that still astounds me: they sang hymns to God. More astoundingly, God responded by causing an earthquake to loosen the chains and open the prison doors—perhaps He was adding the rhythm section to their song : ). Amazing!

        What’s even more amazing is that angels can sing, and God sings. Look at the book of revelation: you have many passages throughout the book of angels singing praises to God: “Holy, Holy, Holy, / Lord God Almighty / Who was and is and is to come!” (Revelation 4:8). Jesus Himself sang with His disciples in Mark 14:26. A lot of examples for a blog I know, but it’s important to understand what I am giving you, O reader. Music is the language of the heart: the heart of man; the heart of God. It’s a powerful ensemble of instruments to praise and worship our Creator. I can see why Paul encouraged it in two of his epistles: we, as God’s elect, should sing our hearts to God. You never know, God might just sing His heart back to us as individuals and as a church.

Introspection of a Wilderness Mind #1

        About a few days ago, I prayed a prayer for the LORD to ‘search my heart’ and to ‘try my mind’. I needed to see the things God sees in me that either needs to be burnt away—pride, lies, self-deception, etc—or needs to be remolded and reshaped. What I mean by remolded and reshaped can be better explained in a later blog—I am still beginning to understand it myself. What I do know is this: God sees a vision of us as His dear children. He wants us to live up to the full potential that He created us to be. Thus, if we desire Him too, He shows us things in our lives that need to be changed or burnt away. He prunes things in us and/or in our lives to be more fruitful in Godly character.

        The LORD searched my heart, and saw things that He didn’t want there. What God reveals isn’t comfortable by any means, but it’s needed for our growth. I am not going to write what God showed me in my heart because that’s not the purpose of this blog. However, I can show you, O reader, what He revealed to me about what He saw in my mind. Notice, I asked for this; He responded to my prayer. Here’s steak for thought. Shouldn’t that prove in of itself that God is not a God distant from us? He wants to be near to us to work with us; He wants to have a proper relationship with us.

        Well, what He revealed to me about what’s in my mind is a lack of vision for my future. It’s a wilderness mentality that Satan puts on us to make us believe that we are defined by our past miseries and present circumstances. The enemy also tries to make things happen in order to keep us in this state of hopelessness. How does he do this when God is in charge? Simple, we allow him too, and God allows him in order to teach us to trust Him. I am allowing the enemy to control my circumstances because of my lack of vision. Why? This isn’t what God had in mind for me.

        Did not Jesus Christ pay the price for my sins so that He can cleanse me of my past? Did not Jesus Christ—after I was baptized into a watery grave and reborn again to new life—give me of His Spirit in order for me to live in newness of life in the present? Why then do I not have a great and positive vision of my future? God prophesied through Jeremiah in Chapter 29 and verse 11: “I know the thoughts that I have toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope”. He wanted to give that to the captives of Judah of Jeremiah’s day. How much more does He want that for me, a child of the living God?! O how little is my faith!

        It seems that I am introspective in this blog, but it’s for a reason. Sometimes, we need to be introspective about ourselves and our lives. This is one of those times for me to reflect. I feel that the example of Abraham would help in gaining a proper perspective and understanding of what God wants me to see. Also, I prayed that God would show me what He sees.