And Abraham believed in Yahweh and it was reckoned to him for righteousness (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6; James 2:23)

     This is one of the more popular scriptures. It is especially emphasized among those propagating a form of “faith” which is contrary to the law. I will not spend time addressing this error, aside from the fact that Abraham’s “faith” was demonstrated through his obedience to the law. (Genesis 26:5). What we will look into is what it was that Abraham actually “believed” and the significance it holds for us today.

      Now, although this fact is little known or largely overlooked, what Abraham “believed” is directly related to his relationship with Yahweh. That is, Yahweh made a promise and because Abraham “believed” in Yahweh that it would be fulfilled, it was accounted to him as righteousness. Do you know what that promise was?

     And [Yahweh] brought him outside and said, “Look now toward the heavens, and count the stars if you are able to count them.” and He said to him, “So shall your seed be.” And he believed in Yahweh, and He reckoned it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:5-6)

     You have probably never noticed it before, but it was the promise of a vast progeny which Abraham believed. Time and again it is written that this progeny—through the seed of promise— would be innumerable (Genesis16:10, 22:17, 26:4, 28:14, 32:12; Exodus 32:13). So Yahweh promised Abraham that he would have an innumerable number of descendants, Abraham “believed,” and it was reckoned to him for righteousness.

      Over the past millennium or so, various groups have claimed to be the exclusive “chosen people.” Not only religious entities like the Catholic Church and Jehovah's Witnesses, but ethnic groups as well. For instance, some have claimed that the collective “white man” or the collective “black man” constitutes the chosen people (i.e. Israel). The Jews have claimed this title for quite some time as well. I think it is interesting that neither the “red man” nor the “yellow man” have ever claimed this, to the best of my knowledge.

      This is a touchy subject, I know, but all of these ethnocentric or elitist claims can be swept into the trash bin due to the promise Yahweh made to Abraham. For every single one of the groups claiming to be the physical heirs of the promise, the biological “chosen people,” can be and indeed has been numbered. Yet clearly Yahweh said the seed promised to Abraham would be innumerable, that is, not able to be numbered. Thus these people are in error who claim that any numerable multitude is the exclusive “chosen people.”

      I hope I am not misunderstood. I am not saying that any of these people are wholly excluded from being a part of the “chosen people.” They cannot be the fullness of the seed of promise, but can be a part of it. Yahweh promised Abraham an innumerable seed. He believed it. Do you?

     When Yahweh made His promise to Abraham he “believed” it. But that does not mean he fully understood it. In fact, the Scriptures reflect that Abraham did not (Genesis 16). He and his wife set out to fulfill Yahweh’s promise according to their own understanding and so the blessing passed over Abraham's firstborn (Ishmael) and went to his second son (Isaac). This is a parable of two ways to serve Yahweh (Galatians 4:23-31).

     The bypassing of the first born is a peculiar recurrence in the Scriptures (Genesis 21:12, 27:19-32, 48:14-19). Usually in these cases there are circumstances reflecting that the firstborn was into or was the product of, carnal pursuits. The Spiritual birthright would obviously be unbecoming of one who would not be of a character able to fully realize it. The line of inheritance perpetuates the blessing promised to Abraham. This is clear as Ephraim, the final individual in the line of patriarchs whom unconventionally received the blessing, was promised to become a “multitude of nations,”(Genesis 48:19). This echoes the promise Yahweh made to Abraham, his great grandfather. We will discuss this more later.

     When the tribes of Israel were given the land of promise, Yahweh stipulated that if they did not live righteously He would expel them into “all of the kingdoms of the earth” (Deuteronomy 28:25). For obedience He promised to bless them, but for disobedience it was promised that “Yahweh shall scatter you among all peoples and nations, from the one end of the earth to the other….” (Deuteronomy 28:64). However, He also promised that there would be a time that it would end.

     It shall come to pass, when all these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you shall call them to mind, among all the nations, where Yahweh your Elohim has driven yu, and you shall return to Yahweh your Elohim, and shall obey His voice…. (Deuteronomy 30:1-2).

      Now, many are not aware of the fact that the spreading of the Good News, “Evangelism,” is directly related to the restoration of the Kingdom of Israel (Acts 1:6-8). This restoration is not, contrary to popular theology, the modern day establishment of Israel (so called Palestine). The restoration of the Kingdom of Israel involves all Israel, not just the house of Judah. The common assumption of many that the Jews constitute—in totality—the Kingdom of Israel is erroneous. The Word “Jew” is a contraction of “Judah.”

     After Solomon’s reign, Israel was divided into two distinct kingdoms comprised of one kingdom ruled by Judah and another ruled by Ephraim (1 Kings 11). The tribe of Judah was joined by Benjamin (2 Chronicles 11:1-12). These distinct kingdoms (or houses) are referred to as Ephraim and Judah in the Prophets (Isaiah 11:13; Hosea 5:13) or the House of Israel and the house of Judah (Jeremiah5:11; 31:27-33). Although migrations occur they will remain distinct entities until the full restoration occurs (Ezekiel37:15-28).

      Beginning with their captivity in Babylon the house of Judah is referred to—in most English versions—as “the Jews” (Nehemiah 1; Esther3:6; Ezra 4:12). Ephraim—the house of Israel—not being present for this, having ceased to be “a [chosen] people” centuries earlier, is never, not once, ever called the Jews in the Scriptures.

      You see, whereas the Jews—of the house of Judah—was “dispersed,” the house of Israel was “outcast” (Isaiah 11:12). Yahweh did not divorce His people of the house of Judah, but did divorce the house of Israel (Jeremiah 3:8). This is especially significant because He hates divorce (Malachi 2:16). Nevertheless, while the house of Judah was permitted to return from the Babylonian captivity (Jeremiah 25:11-12), the house of Israel earlier become no longer Yahweh’s people, nor was He their Elohim (Hosea 1:9). They effectively became one with the nations, Gentiles.

      The tale is aptly described in Yahshua’s parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32). In fact, “Ephraim” itself signifies to be “prodigious.” Moreover, those “far off” (Luke 15:13) is an idiom for the house of Israel in contrast to Judah—those “near” (Ezekiel 11:13-16; Daniel 9:7; Isaiah 33:13,57:19). The writings of Sha’ul (Paul) also speak in this manner (Ephesians 2:11-22), though many have viewed these texts superficially to simply mean Jews and Gentiles. It must be remembered what Yahweh had promised Abraham and his descendants.

      In fact, Sha’ul refers to Ephraim as Gentiles in his Olive Tree discourse (Romans 11:25). Remember the blessing placed upon Ephraim—that he would become a “multitude of nations”? These words, literally translate as melo (Fullness) and goyim (gentiles). Sha’ul speaks directly of the promise and restoration of Israel, comprised of Jews and “Gentiles (Romans 11:26). The Olive Tree is Israel.

     During the same time that Sha’ul was writing this, Josephus (c37-100CE) wrote that the house of Israel was “an immense multitude, not to be estimated by numbers” (Josephus, Antiquities 11:52). These are the so-called “lost tribes.”

       James evidently did not believe they were eternally lost (James 1:1). Nor did Sha’ul (Acts 26:5-6), or the Master (Matthew 10:6, 15:24).

      Although we have been led to believe that Yahshua came to “build [a] church” (Matthew 16;18), the terminology translated to say such actually means to “edify [the] Assembly.” For the “Church”(Assembly) did not begin there, or at Pentecost, but already existed at Mt. Sinai (Acts 7:38 KJV). The New Covenant is not with a different people, but rather with the house of Israel and the house of Judah (Jeremiah 31:31-33; Hebrews 8:8-10).

      The prophecies concerning the outcast house of Israel (Hosea 1;9-10, 2:23) are applied by the Apostles to the “Gentiles” coming to Messiah (Romans 9:25-26; 2Corinthians 6:16) and specifically “Christians” (1 Peter 4:16, 2:9-10). Sha’ul is called a ringleader of the Nazarenes (Acts 24:5). “Nazarene” is a Grecianized form of Notsrim, the “watchmen” (Jeremiah31:6) and “preserved of Israel” (Isaiah 49:6). The word means “one kept, watched, reserved” (Young’s Analytical Concordance, p. 771). Yahweh has not forsaken His people.

     “...preservation did take place, not as a nation, or kingdom, but as individuals called the “preserved ones of Israel” in Isaiah 49:6. The early believers in Jerusalem, Judea (Judah), and Samaria (Ephriam’s former capital) were all called Notsrim, Notsraei, or Netsarim Israel. They were the “preserved ones’ from both houses, from both the 721 BCE and 586 BCE exiles….The Hebrew term for branches is netsarim, the same word used here...In John 15, Yahshua calls all believers regardless of race, Nazarenes, or branches netsarim….” (Restoration Scriptures True Name Edition Study Bible, p.347).

      Yahweh has used the disobedience of His people to fulfill the promise made to Abraham. Though they (we) may have taken on the features of all of the nations in which we have been cast out among, we are Yahweh’s people. If you are Messiah’s then you are Abraham’s seed (Galatians 3:29). Let’s not force abstract and non-literal meanings into the Scriptures. Our devotion proves who we are (Deuteronomy 30:1-2).

     May Yahweh bless you and keep you, and make His face shine upon you. And may these words be confirmed by many witnesses for all who seek.

HalleluYah!