Israel: The Kingdom’s 42nd Immortal Generation
Today’s Focus: Understanding The Physical Nation of Israel
Scripture: Deuteronomy 5:2-5; Exodus 19:5,6
Greetings Kingdom Citizens
Now we know that God made Abraham and his seed beneficiaries of the covenant between God and God that He would have sons. Now we know that it would the seed of Abraham that will ultimately bring Christ. We know that also in Abraham’s seed was Jacob because Abraham was Jacob’s grandfather and Isaac was Jacob’s father. We know that upon Jacob wrestling with God his name we changed to Israel and it will be Israel that would carry the name of God through that age of time.
The physical nation of Israel was very unique in the sense that it was a family made up of fathers and sons (Hebrew for offspring including male and female). Jacob (Israel) had 12 sons. These twelve sons would be twelve patriarchs having children and those children having children and so on. Now you may notice that these descendents of Jacob bared His new name because God referred to the nation as the children of Israel. So not only was the firstborn son, Jacob called Israel but also everyone born of him was called Israel (very important to remember).
Israel would go through some traumatic situations as a nation. Most importantly 432 years in Egypt. They were delivered by the hand of God through the sea. Upon their deliverance they would come to Mt. Sinai and be offered the first covenant to become sons of God which would would make them a Royal Priesthood.
Exodus 19:5,6: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and KEEP MY COVENANT, then YE SHALL BE a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye SHALL BE unto me a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Now we know that there is a covenant being made available because verse 5 says so. But look at what God tells them: IF YOU KEEP MY COVENANT, THEN YOU SHALL BE. In other words, if you do not keep this covenant then you will not be. What will you not be: A KINGDOM OF PRIEST AND HOLY NATION.
Question: DID ISRAEL KEEP OR RECEIVE THIS COVENANT WHICH WOULD MAKE THEM A ROYAL PREISTHOOD?
NO THEY DID NOT! They reject that offer and because of God’s love, immutable counsel, goodness and mercy. God made ANOTHER covenant with the children of Israel in Horeb which would make them a physical nation. This covenant would be the Law of Moses. Let’s prove it.
Deuteronomy 5:2-5: The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. The Lord MADE NOT THIS COVENANT WITH OUR FATHERS, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive this day (children of Israel who were delivered from Egypt). The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire, (I stood between the Lord and you at that time, TO SHEW YOU THE WORD OF THE LORD: FOR YE WERE AFRAID BY REASON OF THE FIRE, AND WENT NOT UP INTO THE MOUNT;)
God told the children of Israel to wash their clothes, sanctify themselves and get ready because the Lord will descend on the mount on the third day. When the third day came, the Lord came on the mount and because of fear, they chose not to come up and receive the first covenant of sonship. The Law of Moses was given to the children of Israel to make them a nation of laws, ordinances and decrees. In addition, God set aside the family of Aaron which is of the tribe of Levi to be the priesthood of the nation. God would tell the nation what to do and how to set up certain things, especially the temple. He gave them a pattern to follow and they followed it exactly as God designed it. He gave them feasts and holidays to observe and perpetually keep.
This entire process of the second covenant is a type and shadow of something to come. In the next message we will look at physical Israel and the coming of the Messiah.
Peace, Love and Grace from the Father,
Calvin Calhoun, Jr.
