by Belo Alvaran

For a brief review of our past discussions, we have established that God was, and still is, pursuing his two-phased plan in Genesis 1:26:

Gene 1:26 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our IMAGE (Phase I), after our LIKENESS (Phase II):…

God has finished Phase I:

Gene 1:27 (KJV) So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

To kick start Phase II, God chose Abraham and his descendants as materials to launch his project of making men after his own likeness.

Winning the heart and soul of the three patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, went quite easy for God. After God dictated his terms, he found Abraham, aged 99, very compliant. His main proposition was:

Gene 17:1 (KJV) And when Abram was ninety years old and nine (99), the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be you perfect. …7 And I will establish my covenant between me and you and you seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, TO BE A GOD UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR SEED AFTER YOU.

To Isaac, God simply introduced himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac followed the footsteps of his father.

Gene 26:17 (KJV) And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.…23 And (when the Philistines gave him troubles) he went up from thence to Beersheba. 24 And the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [am] the God of Abraham your father: fear not, for I [am] with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

To Jacob, God introduced himself as the God of Abraham and of Isaac and Jacob accepted God as his God:

Gene 28:13 (KJV) And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed;

To Moses, God introduced himself as the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob:

Exod 3:6 (KJV) Moreover he said, I [am] the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

God appointed Moses to be his interlocutor to the Israelites:

…15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, had sent me unto you: THIS [IS] MY NAME FOR EVER, and this [is] my memorial unto all generations.

Here is the main feature of God’s offer:

Exod 6:7 (KJV) And I WILL TAKE YOU TO ME FOR A PEOPLE, and I WILL BE TO YOU A GOD: and you shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, which brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

God also instructed Moses to appoint Aaron and his sons as priests:

Numb 3:10 (KJV) And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest’s office:…

However, God’s efforts to make himself known to the people hit some snags along the way. First, Moses failed in his task as interlocutor. Second, the Levitical priests misused their office for personal gain and caused people to turn away from God. Third, the Israelites looked to other gods (Judg 2:12). Consequently, God put his project ON HOLD.

Jere 11:9 (KJV) And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 THEY ARE TURNED BACK TO THE INIQUITIES OF THEIR FOREFATHERS, which refused to hear my words; and they went after OTHER GODS to serve them: the HOUSE OF ISRAEL and the HOUSE OF JUDAH have broken MY COVENANT (to be their God, and they to be his people) which I made with their fathers.
11 Therefore thus said the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

Hebr 8:8 (KJV) For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the HOUSE OF ISRAEL and with the HOUSE OF JUDAH (exclusively);
9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; BECAUSE THEY CONTINUED NOT IN MY COVENANT (to be their God), and I regarded them not (as his people), said the Lord.

Today, modern Israelites have forgotten their God.

Jere 2:32 (KJV, the LORD speaking) Can a maid forget her ornaments, [or] a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

But God is not giving up. He has plans to make HIS NAME known to the entire House of Israel:

Ezek 36:22 (KJV) Therefore say unto the HOUSE OF ISRAEL, Thus said the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for my holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the heathen, whither you went.
23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, said the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified IN YOU (first) before their eyes.
24 For I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, AND GATHER YOU OUT OF ALL COUNTRIES, AND WILL BRING YOU INTO YOUR OWN LAND.
25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you (the word of God is water), and you shall be clean (God will need TEACHERS OF THE WORD to cleanse them): from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my SPIRIT within you, and cause you to walk in my STATUTES, and you shall keep my JUDGMENTS, and do [them].

The words of God are spirit:

John 6:63 (KJV, Jesus Christ speaking) It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, [they] are SPIRIT, and [they] are life. (This therefore is the spirit that God will pour – his words – to be taught by spirit teachers!)

28 And you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and YOU SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, AND I WILL BE YOUR GOD.

In preparation for this SECOND ATTEMPT to be the God of the Israelites, God changed the priesthood from the Order of Aaron (composed of human priests) to the Order of Melchisedec (to be composed of spirit priests) and ordained his own son Jesus Christ as High Priest. Then he called select individuals to train in priesthood to assist Christ. As Mr. Armstrong had told us, the Church of God is a school for teachers who are priests.

Mala 2:7 (KJV) For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger (Heb Malak, AMBASSADOR) of the LORD of hosts.

Apostles and ministers, the equivalent of priests, are God’s ambassadors:

2Cor 5:20 (KJV, Paul speaking) Now then WE (Paul and his fellow ministers) are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God.

And there is where we come in. We are among those individuals training in priesthood.

1Pet 2:9 (KJV, Peter speaking to Gentile converts) But you [are] a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth (declare, make known, introduce) the praises of him (God the Father) who had called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:
10 Which in time past [were] not a people (of God), but [are] NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

We are royal-priests-to-be because our Father, who is God the Father, is King. We are even better than Prince William and Prince Harry who shall remain humans when Christ comes back.

Isai 32:1 (KJV) Behold, a KING shall reign in righteousness, and PRINCES shall rule in judgment.

Those PRINCES are us. And we shall be royal priests. Christ, our High Priest is coming soon and we don’t want to be caught unprepared. Now therefore is the time to be serious in our calling.

One of the main shortcomings of the Levitical priests was – they did not know God.

1Sam 2:12 (KJV) Now the sons of Eli [were] sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

The WCG under the tutelage of Mr. Armstrong gave us only a glimpse of what God’s government is like. Our task at hand therefore is to refine our knowledge about God so that we can be integrated smoothly into his Kingdom.

To begin with, there were three (3) main provisions in the covenant between God and the Israelites that we ought to be familiar with, namely: COMMANDMENTS, JUDGMENTS and STATUTES. They contain most of the words of God that man should live by.

Deut 6:1 (KJV) Now these [are] the COMMANDMENTS, the STATUTES, and the JUDGMENTS, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that you might do [them] in the land whither you go to possess it:
…3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do them; that it may be well with you, and that you may increase mightily, as the LORD God of you fathers has promised you, in the land that flows with milk and honey.

Luke 4:4 (KJV) And Jesus answered the devil, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Therefore these COMMANDMENTS, STATUTES and JUDGMENTS are the guidelines that we must learn by heart today, because these are the same guidelines that WE WILL TEACH the Israelites when God resumes his project with them.

Let’s define some terms:

Section V. Definition of Terms:

• COMMANDMENTS: They are the Code of Conduct on how to become ROYAL PRIESTS, foremost of which were the Ten Commandments;
• JUDGMENTS: They are laws governing inter-personal relationships such as Parents and Children, Husbands and Wives, Neighbors and Neighbors, Enemies and Friends, Masters and Servants, etc.;
• STATUTES: also called Ordinances, refer to God’s Festivals, Health and Food Laws, Taxation, Personnel Appointments, etc.,

Note: the laws on animal sacrifices belonged to the Covenant of the Priesthood. We will discuss them in detail when we get to the topic of priesthood.

Let us now discuss the COMMANDMENTS to see HOW WE CAN TEACH THEM.

Section VI. THE COMMANDMENTS

EXODUS 20:1 (KJV) And God spoke all these WORDS, saying, 2 I [am] the LORD your God, which have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Note: The word “WORDS”, Heb dabar, means, inter alia, PROVISIONS.

COMMANDMENT NO. 1

Exod 20:3 YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME.

In God’s Order of Precedence, he is number one. This command therefore is a RULE OF PROTOCOL. We are not allowed to place anyone or anything before God. This is consistent with the main proviso in the covenant to make God the God of the people.

Exod 6:7 (KJV) And I will take you to me for a people, and I WILL BE TO YOU A GOD: and YOU SHALL KNOW (i.e., they should exert efforts to get to know him) that I [am] the LORD your God, which brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

Why were the Pharisees rejected by God as teachers? Because “they say (the commandments) and do them not. They did not know God:

Matt 23:1 (KJV) Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you OBSERVE, [that] observe and do; but do not you after their works: for THEY SAY, AND DO NOT.

“Observe” means ATTEND TO carefully. To be teachers of God, we are required to “do first, and say later on”.

1Joh 2:4 (KJV, Christ speaking) He that says, I know him (God), and keeps not his commandments, is a LIAR, and the truth is not in him.

Liars will be meted with death:

Reve 21:8 (KJV) But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all LIARS (those who say they know God and keep not his commandments), shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We can see that knowing God is a difficult task. It entails keeping the commandments. So, how do we ensure that we are keeping the first commandment?

Deut 12:29 (KJV) When the LORD your God shall cut off the nations from before you, whither you go to possess them, and you succeed them, and dwell in their land; 30 Take heed to yourself that you are not snared by following them, after that they were destroyed from before you; and that YOU ENQUIRE NOT AFTER THEIR GODS, SAYING, HOW DID THESE NATIONS SERVE THEIR GODS? EVEN SO WILL I DO LIKEWISE.

Ancient Israelites enquired after other gods:

Numb 25:1 (KJV) And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab. 2 And they (the daughters of Moab) called the (Israelite) people unto the sacrifices of their gods: and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods. 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baalpeor: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel.

Even priests can worship other gods as Eli the High Priest did:

1Sam 2:22 Now Eli (the Levitical High Priest) was very old, and heard all that his SONS (who were priests) did unto all Israel (they took from the people’s offerings more than what God prescribed, thus offending the people and turning their hearts away from God); AND how THEY LAY WITH THE WOMEN that assembled [at] the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
…27 And there came a MAN OF GOD unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus said the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of your father (Aaron), when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house?…29 Wherefore kick you at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and HONOUR YOUR SONS ABOVE ME, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

By allowing his sons to commit sins, Eli made his sons his god:

Roma 6:16 (KJV) Know you not, that TO WHOM YOU YIELD YOURSELVES SERVANTS TO OBEY, his servants you are to whom you obey (i.e., no longer God’s servants); whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
…22 But now being made free from sin, and become SERVANTS TO GOD, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

1Sam 2:30 Wherefore the LORD God of Israel said (to Eli), I said indeed [that] your house, and the HOUSE OF YOUR FATHER, should walk before me forever; but NOW, the LORD said, BE IT FAR FROM ME (God here revoked, or disannulled, the Covenant of the Priesthood under the Order of Aaron); for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

The LORD revoked his covenant of the priesthood for the Levites because of Eli’s sin. We cannot afford to make the same mistake that Eli did.

Acquiescing to our colleagues at work, or to our family members at home, or to anyone for that matter, even yielding to our own desires, to do anything forbidden by the LORD, has the same effect of honoring someone more than God. That is tantamount to “having other god” in violation of the first commandment.

Because it is so easy to have other gods, obedience to the first commandment is – difficult – but doable. We just need to be always on the alert to check our decisions and actions.

So, what else is forbidden by the LORD that we shall teach the Israelites?

COMMANDMENT NO. 2

Exod 20:4 You shall not make unto you any graven image, or any likeness [of anything] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: 5 You shall not bow down yourself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD your God [am] a JEALOUS God, visiting (punishing) the iniquity (lawlessness) of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Comments taken from https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/20.htm

“Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children.—It is a fact that, under God’s natural government of the world, the iniquity of fathers is visited upon their children. Diseases caused by vicious courses are transmitted. The parents’ extravagance leaves their children beggars. To be the son of a felon is to be heavily handicapped in the race of life (because he is stigmatized).

Stigma: a mark made by a branding iron on the skin of a criminal or slave; a mark of disgrace or infamy; a stain or reproach, as on one’s reputation.

“…We all inherit countless disadvantages on account of our first parents’ sin. We each individually inherit special tendencies to this or that form of evil from the misconduct of our several progenitors.

(And, according to God’s pronouncement above, it could take 3 or 4 generations to eradicate those evil tendencies)

“…Still, the penalty upon the children is not final or irreversible. Under whatever disadvantages they are born, they may struggle against them, and lead good lives, and place themselves, even in this world, on a level with those who were born under every favorable circumstance.

(Overcoming therefore is important. Those who follow their parents’ footsteps to sin will also be meted punishment.)

“…It is needless to say that, (if they overcome), their parents’ iniquities will not be visited on them. “Each man will bear his own burden (Gala 6:5).” The soul that sinned, it shall die. “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezek 18:20).” (End of quote)

Comments taken from https://biblehub.com/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/20.htm

Idols are not solely made of wood or stone. One can create an idol in his heart, i.e., in the mind:

Ezek 14:1 (KJV) Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. 2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 3 Son of man, these men have set up their IDOLS IN THEIR HEART (i.e., in their minds), and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity (lawlessness) before their face (by refusing to obey God): should I be enquired of at all by them? (Shall I attend to their inquiries?)…6 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn [yourselves] from your idols (within their heart);…7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourns in Israel, which…PUTS THE STUMBLINGBLOCK OF HIS INIQUITY before his face, and comes to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I the LORD will answer him by myself: 8 And I will set my face against that man…and I will CUT HIM OFF from the midst of my people… (these are the words of a jealous God!).

Stubbornness, a rebellious attitude that exists in the mind, is idolatry:

1Sam 15:23 (KJV) For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity (lawlessness) and idolatry.

Idolatry is among the works of the flesh, but it exists in the mind.

Gala 5:19 (KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

Covetousness is idolatry in the sense that one worships the things that he covets:

Colo 3:5 (KJV) Mortify (suppress) therefore your members (your habits and practices) which are upon the earth (earthly behavior); fornication, uncleanness, inordinate (unreasonable) affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

1Cor 10:14 (KJV) Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry (by not thinking about earthly things).

We need to cleanse our minds to get rid of idols:

Phil 4:8 (KJV) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, THINK ON THESE THINGS.
9 Those things, which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and SEEN IN ME, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Note that Paul taught by example. We are training to become teachers. Teachers “do” and “say”, not “say” and “do not”. We shall also teach by example.

Our study is getting difficult.

Remember the second commandment: “You shall have no other gods before me.” These gods exist in the mind, so let us cleanse our minds by suppressing evil thoughts and replacing them with good thoughts.

COMMANDMENT NO. 3

Exod 20:7 You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.

How shall we teach this commandment? Well, we carry God’s name because God is our Father. Every time we sin, we take the name of God our Father in vain.

Gala 3:26 (KJV) For you are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Mala 2:2 (KJV) If you will not hear, and if you will not lay [it] to heart, TO GIVE GLORY UNTO MY NAME, said the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings:…

2Chr 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are CALLED BY MY NAME, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The LORD is very protective of his name. He maintains a good reputation. His credibility is tied with his name.

Numb 14:11 (KJV, after the spies that Moses sent gave a false report) And the LORD said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?
12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of YOU (Moses) a greater nation and mightier than they.

Moses’ arguments focused on God’s NAME, his credibility:

13 And Moses said unto the LORD, Then the Egyptians shall hear [it], (for you brought up this people in your might from among them;)
14 And they will tell [it] to the inhabitants of this land: [for] they have heard that you LORD [are] among this people, that you LORD are seen face to face, and [that] your cloud stands over them, and [that] you go before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.
15 Now [if] you shall kill [all] this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of you will speak, saying,
16 Because the LORD was not able to bring this people into the land which he swore unto them, therefore he had slain them in the wilderness. (That would destroy God’s credibility and tarnish his name)
17 And now, I beseech you, let the power of my LORD be great, according as you have spoken, saying,
18 The LORD [is] longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing [the guilty], visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation].
19 Pardon, I beseech you, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of your mercy, and as you have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.
20 And the LORD said, I have pardoned according to your word:

Isai 48:9 (KJV, the LORD speaking) For my NAME’S sake will I defer my anger, and for my praise (Heb tehillah, or modern spelling – tequila, renown, indicating credibility) will I refrain for you, that I cut you not off.

God’s name therefore, was the only reason the Israelites are still alive.

God reserves special blessing for those who fear his name:

Mala 4:2 (KJV) But unto you that fear my NAME shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], said the LORD of hosts.

NEXT: Part 13 – Commandment No. 4

by Belo Alvaran

FOREWORD

The LORD was unknown to the Israelites, so he appointed Moses to be his interlocutor. His assignment was:

Exod 6:6 (KJV, the LORD speaking to Moses) Wherefore SAY UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, I [am] the LORD…

GOD WANTS HIMSELF TO BE KNOWN TO THE ISRAELITES

7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I WILL BE TO YOU A GOD: and YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I [AM] THE LORD YOUR GOD, which brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

The way he phrased verse 7, “You shall know that I am the LORD your God,” it sounded more of a command than a statement. In essence, he made it the people’s task to get to know him.

Getting to know someone, let alone God, is not easy, to say the least. Numerous dissertations have been posted on the web on how to go about it. Here is a quote from one of the more authoritative sources:

“Terri Orbuch, PhD, author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great, says “…if you really want to get to know someone beyond the surface level, you’ve got to dig deeper…Topics that get at the other person’s inner world—their THOUGHTS, GOALS and DREAMS—will strengthen and increase bonding between two people…Just like in a romantic relationship, sharing personal information strengthens the relationship—deeper questions focus on that personal self-disclosure.”(End of quote)

Source: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a22500573/questions-to-ask-to-get-to-know-someone

Note that knowing each other’s thoughts strengthens bonding between two people. Similarly, we should strive to know God’s thoughts if we want to get to know him.

God knows man’s thoughts, but does man know his thoughts? Do we in the Church of God know his thoughts?

Psal 94:11 (KJV) The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they [are] vanity.

God’s thoughts can be known through his written words. Here is his goal:

Isai 14:24 (KJV) The LORD of hosts had sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:

Here is what he had thought about man:

Gene 1:26 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:..
The LORD has a complaint against his people and that is, they refuse to know him:
Jere 9:2 (KJV, the LORD expressing his frustrations) Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go (away) from them! …6 …THEY REFUSE TO KNOW ME, said the LORD.

But the LORD is not giving up. He is bound by his promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which he made under oath, to make the Israelites his people and him their God. However, his initial interlocutors, the Levitical priests, proved incompetent:

Levi 10:8 (KJV) And the LORD spoke unto Aaron (the High Priest), saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink, you, nor your sons (the priests) with you, when you go into the tabernacle of the congregation…11 And that you may TEACH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL all the statutes which the LORD had spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

The Levitical priests, however, appointed on the spot and untrained, were unskillful in introducing the LORD to the people. They always had some failings along the way. It will take spirit priests, trained and disciplined, to bring the people close to God.

Isai 43:27 (KJV) Your first father (Adam) had sinned, and YOUR TEACHERS (the Levitical Priests) HAVE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST ME.

And there is where we, Christian converts, shall come in: God is training us to be teachers in his coming Kingdom:

Isai 30:20 (KJV, addressing the Israelites) And [though] the Lord gives you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not your TEACHERS be removed into a corner any more, but your eyes shall see your teachers: 21 And YOUR EARS SHALL HEAR A WORD BEHIND YOU (coming from spirit teachers who are priests), saying, This [is] the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand (away from God), and when you turn to the left.

We are those spirit-priests-to-be. We were called, not to complement the Levites, but to replace them!

1Sam 2:35 (KJV, the LORD chastising Eli, the Levitical High Priest whose sons corrupted the priesthood) …I WILL RAISE ME UP A FAITHFUL PRIEST, [that] shall do according to [that] which [is] in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed FOREVER (this must be a spirit priest because he will live forever).

The LORD subsequently appointed Jesus Christ High Priest after the Order of Melchisedec, a spirit being:

Psal 110:4 (KJV) The LORD had sworn (this is a berith under oath), and will not repent (irrevocable), You [Jesus are] a priest forever after the Order of Melchizedek.

Hebr 7:21 (KJS) For those (Levitical) priests were made without an oath (meaning their employment was temporary); but this (priest, who was Jesus, was made) with an oath by (God the Father) that said unto him, The LORD swore and will not repent, You [are] a priest for ever after the Order of Melchisedec (i.e., spirit priest).
22 By so much (i.e., on the strength of that appointment) was Jesus made a surety of a better testament (berith, also translated covenant, on priesthood).
23 And they truly were many (Levitical) priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death (either by natural cause or resulting from sin): 24 But this [man Jesus], because he continues (to live) ever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

We are the “body of Jesus Christ” hence we shall be spirit priests like him under the same Order. He is the High Priest, and we are the priests

1Cor 12:27 (KJV) Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Hebr 3:1 (KJV) Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and HIGH PRIEST of our profession, Christ Jesus;

Our profession is priesthood:

1Pet 2:9 (KJV) But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth (exhibit and teach) the praises (virtues) of him (God the Father) who had called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Priests are teachers of God:

Mala 2:7 (KJV) For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger (Heb. Malak, AMBASSADOR) of the LORD of hosts.

For this reason, we need to know the LORD our God so that we could re-introduce him to the Israelites.

For a start, let’s look at Isai 33:22:

Isai 33:22 (KJV) For the LORD [is] our JUDGE, the LORD [is] our LAWGIVER, the LORD [is] our KING; he will save us.

As our judge, we shall teach his judgments; as our lawgiver we shall teach his laws, both the letter and the intent, and the weightier matters such as judgment, mercy and faith; as our KING we shall teach his management principles and practices. God is a covenanting God, so we also need to know his negotiating techniques, the “art of the deal” in President Donald Trump’s lingo.

Here was an instance wherein God gave a sample of his negotiating techniques:

Exod 3:1 (KJV) Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, [even] to Horeb (a part of Mt. Sinai).
2 And the ANGEL (Heb Malak, AMBASSADOR) of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush [was] not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

From here we can see God in action: God speaks through a SPOKESMAN, an AMBASSADOR. Apostles are ambassadors.

Ephe 6:20 (KJV, Paul speaking about the gospel) For which (gospel) I am an AMBASSADOR in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

2Cor 5:20 (KJV) Now then we (Paul and his fellow ministers) are AMBASSADORS for Christ, as though GOD did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God.

However, God’s Ambassador in Exod 3:2 was different in that he had “full powers” from God so that he was allowed to speak like he was God. He did that with the Israelites:

Exod 23:20 (KJV) Behold, I send an ANGEL (Heb Malak, AMBASSADOR) before you, to keep you in the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for MY NAME IS IN HIM.
22 But if you shall indeed obey HIS VOICE, and do all that I SPEAK; then I will be an enemy unto your enemies, and an adversary unto your adversaries.

Note further that this AMBASSADOR’s voice was God’s voice.

Exod 3:4 And when the LORD (i.e., the AMBASADOR) saw that (Moses) turned aside to see, GOD (i.e., the AMBASSADOR) called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here [am] I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off your shoes from off your feet, for the place whereon you stand [is] holy ground.

Clearly, this was not an ordinary ANGEL. This was a person highly trusted by the LORD, his right hand man. This must be the one who made everything for God. This must be the SPOKESMAN who became the Son of God:

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word (Spokesman), and the Spokesman was with God, and THE SPOKESMAN WAS GOD. …3 ALL THINGS (including man and the covenants) WERE MADE BY THE SPOKESMAN…14 And the SPOKESMAN was made flesh, and dwelt among us (in the person of JESUS CHRIST) and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only BEGOTTEN of the Father, full of grace and truth (God’s word is truth – spoken by the Spokesman!).

Ephe 3:8 (KJV) Unto me (Paul), who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of CHRIST; 9 And to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world had been hid in GOD WHO CREATED ALL THINGS BY JESUS CHRIST (clearly, the Spokesman was Jesus Christ!):

Let the LORD’s SPOKESMAN / AMBASSADOR continue in presenting to Moses God’s covenant (berith) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which was open to accession by the Israelites:

Exod 6:2 (KJV) And God (i.e., the SPOKESMAN) spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, I [am] the LORD. 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] (or by the authority of) God Almighty 4 And I have also ratified my COVENANT with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

It was God’s decision to open his BERITH to accession by Abraham’s descendants:

Gene 17:7 (KJV, the LORD speaking to Abraham) And I will RATIFY my COVENANT between me and you AND (through ACCESSION) YOUR SEED AFTER YOU in their generations for an everlasting COVENANT, TO BE A GOD UNTO YOU, and to your SEED after you.

It will be recalled that God’s berith was under oath because it was executed with the ritual of passing between the pieces of slaughtered animals, Gene 15:17. The ritual was the ancient equivalent to the present-day practice of raising one’s right hand in executing an oath before a public notary or a judge.

The oath was “self-maledictory” in the sense that it implies “may I be slaughtered like this animals if I abide not by this COVENANT”.

Gene 15:17 (KJV) And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold (this was really happening, not in Abraham’s dream) a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp (a torch – representing the LORD) that passed between those pieces (of animals slaughtered by Abram). 18 In the same day the LORD made a COVENANT with Abram, saying, Unto your seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:

GOD “NOTARIZED” HIS OWN BERITH

After making his promises to Abraham under oath, God also “NOTARIZED” his own oath. An oath-taking ceremony consists of two parties: the one making the oath, and the one administering the oath, normally a person of authority. Since there was no one higher in authority than God, he had to administer his own oath, thus ratifying or “notarizing” the berith.

Here was the RATIFICATION, called jurat in sworn statements:

Gene 22:15 (KJV) And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham OUT OF HEAVEN the second time, 16 And said, (picture God raising his right hand) BY MYSELF HAVE I SWORN, said the LORD, for because you (Abraham) have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only [son]: 17 That (these were God’s promises to Abraham under oath and ratified) in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.

Note: Because this “mother COVENANT” was executed under oath and ratified by God himself, the ACCESSION COVENANT by Abraham’s descendants need not be made under oath again, and need not be ratified again by God himself.

It is very evident that God, and his Spokesman who became Christ were, and still are actively pursuing the second half of their two-phased plan in Genesis 1:26, and that is, to create man after their likeness.

Gene 1:26 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image (phase 1), after our likeness (phase 2):…

The Israelites, numbering some 3 million, were God’s materials.

Numb 1:45 (KJV) So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel; 46 Even all they that were numbered were SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND AND THREE THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY (603,550).

47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

Comments on their number: Bible commentators estimate that if all of the six hundred thousand (600,000) men of war had a wife, their number would double to one million, two hundred thousand (1,200,000). Assuming further that every couple had at least two children, that would yield an additional two million, four hundred thousand (2,400,000) persons. Hence, the adults and children could total 3 million more or less.

So God, through Moses, wanted to present to them His berith. With that mandate, Moses went on his way to free the Israelites from Egypt where they were in bondage.

Let’s rewind a little to Exod 6:2 where God introduced himself to Moses:

Exod 6:2 (KJV) And God spoke unto Moses, and said unto him, I [am] the LORD. 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by [the name of] (or by the authority of) God Almighty (this was obviously the Spokesman speaking for the reason that no man had seen God the Father nor heard his voice, John 5:37)

4 And I have also ratified my COVENANT with them (i.e., Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.

GOD’S PROPOSITION TO THE ISRAELITES

6 Wherefore SAY unto the children of Israel, I [am] the LORD, and I WILL BRING YOU OUT FROM UNDER THE BURDENS OF THE EGYPTIANS, AND I WILL RID YOU OUT OF THEIR BONDAGE, AND I WILL REDEEM YOU WITH A STRETCHED OUT ARM, AND WITH GREAT JUDGMENTS:

Note the main feature of God’s berith for the Israelites which was LITERALLY the same thing he gave to Abraham:

7 And I WILL TAKE YOU TO ME FOR A PEOPLE, and I WILL BE TO YOU A GOD: and you shall know that I [am] the LORD your God, which brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.

For comparison, let’s rewind some more to Gene 17:7 to see God’s original berith for Abraham:

Gene 17:7 (KJV, the LORD speaking to Abraham) And I will ratify my COVENANT between me and you and your seed after you in their generations for an everlasting covenant, TO BE A GOD UNTO YOU, and to your seed after you.

Let’s go back to Exod 6 to see God’s OFFER to the Israelites:

Exod 6:8 And I will bring you in unto the land, concerning the which I did swear to give it to ABRAHAM, to Isaac, and to Jacob; and I will give it you for an heritage: I [am] the LORD.

GOD NEGOTIATES FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH

Note that God did not say, “Would you like me to take you for a people and you take me as your God?” Instead, God dictated his term in the form of a command, a decree. He was speaking from a “position of strength”.

The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, so they were not free to make a decision on God’s offer.

9 And Moses spoke so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened NOT unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel BONDAGE.

It was exactly for to free them that God sent Moses to get them out of Egypt.

PROPHETIC BACKGROUND

In the first place, the Israelites were in Egypt because God sent them there. God told Abraham about it long before Isaac was born.

Gene 15:12 (KJV) And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.
13 And he (God) said unto Abram, Know of a surety that your seed shall be a stranger in a land [that is] not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;
14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterwards shall they come out with great substance.

To grasp the significance of God’s action, we need to remember that God was looking for material human beings to be created ‘after His own LIKENESS’.

Gene 1:26 (KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image (human), after our likeness (spirit):…

Isai 46:9 (KJV) …I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, MY COUNSEL SHALL STAND, AND I WILL DO ALL MY PLEASURE:

So God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and brought them to Sinai where He presented to them his “Terms”.

To see the FINAL form of the Berith, let us give it a legal-sounding title and supply the sub-titles:

GOD’S BERITH FOR ABRAHAM
ACCESSION BY THE ISRALITES

Section I. State-of-the-Nation of the Israelites

Exod 19:1 (KJV) In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they [into] the wilderness of Sinai.
2 For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come [to] the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
3 And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shall you say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel;
4 You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and [how] I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

Section II. GOD’S OFFER (introduced by the pre-condition “IF”):

Exod 19:5 Now therefore, IF (first condition) you will OBEY MY VOICE indeed (note that obedience is pre-requisite befitting a superior being), and (second condition) keep my COVENANT (to be their God and them his people, Exod 6:6-7), THEN you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me ABOVE all people: for all the earth [is] mine:

Comments: If the Israelites were placed “above” all people, then all other people were ranked “below” them. This debunks the idea that all men are equal. God instituted a hierarchy because God’s government is hierarchical. This is not about race – this is about hierarchy.

The other reason all men are not equal is because there are people who are blessed, such as the Israelites; and there are people who are under curse, such as the Canaanites:

Gene 9:24 (KJV) And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his (i.e., Ham’s) younger son had done unto him (Noah – Canaan gave him a homosexual treatment). 25 And he said, Cursed [be] Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. {his servant: or, servant to them} 27 God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. {enlarge: or, persuade}

Let God continue with his offer to the Israelites.

Exod 19:6 And you shall be unto me a KINGDOM OF PRIESTS, and a holy nation. These [are] the words which you (Moses) shall speak unto the children of Israel.

The word ‘kingdom’, Heb mamlakah, means ROYAL. God’s offer to the Israelites was ROYAL priesthood. This BERITH therefore was about ROYAL priesthood.

Clearly, if, and when, they shall have met God’s pre-conditions, then, and only then, will God make them priests and a holy nation.

It is the same offer God made to the Gentiles through the apostles:

1Pet 2:9 (KJV, Peter speaking to Gentile converts) But you [are] a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth (meaning teach) the virtues of him (God the Father) who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

It should be mentioned that the Levitical Priesthood under the Order of Aaron was NOT royal priesthood. We will discuss more of it later on.

Section III. ISRAELITES’ RESPONSE

Exod 19:7 And Moses came and called for the ELDERS of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the LORD commanded him.

This must have taken quite a while because the dissemination of information was limited to word-of-mouth. Note that Moses called only for the elders of the people. The elders most likely had to return to their respective constituents to relay the message for deliberations, and to come back to Moses to convey their response. Moses therefore had to meet every elder at least twice.

8 And all the people answered together (unanimously), and said, All that the LORD had spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.

Note: the Israelites agreed to God’s offers THREE (3) TIMES and this was just the first.

AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE

In this study, we need to consider not just the letters of the law but also the principles involved every step of the way in God’s law-making process. We need to “know” God’s ways and his thoughts.

Prov 23:26 (KJV) My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes OBSERVE MY WAYS.

Psal 81:13 (KJV) Oh (I wish) that my people had hearkened unto me, [and] Israel had walked in MY WAYS!

Note also that the Israelites agreed to God’s BERITH even before the Ten Commandments were given. This was therefore an AGREEMENT-IN-PRINCIPLE in that it identified ONLY the fundamental terms that were agreed upon, namely, they were to obey God’s voice thus making obedience top priority; keep his COVENANT to be their God; and become ROYAL PRIESTS which was their main task once they have become God’s people. This means they should undergo training in priesthood. Their appointment as royal priests therefore was NOT IMMEDIATE.

One thing was very clear at that point in time: God and the people became contracting parties. They had “struck a deal” so-to-speak. This berith therefore was a COVENANT, not Testament, although in Hebrew, they are the same. Now we can call this berith a COVENANT. The book that Moses wrote was therefore accurately called the BOOK OF THE COVENANT in Exod 24:7.

Exod 24:7 (KJV) And he (Moses) took the BOOK OF THE COVENANT, and read in the audience of the people:…

Section IV. GENERAL PROVISIONS

This COVENANT had three (3) main provisions, namely: (1) COMMANDMENTS, (2) JUDGMENTS and (3) STATUTES. These are the “every word” that man should live by:

Deut 4:13 (KJV, Moses recalling the time God gave the Covenant) And he declared unto you his COVENANT, which he commanded you TO PERFORM, [even] TEN COMMANDMENTS (the 1st provision); and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
14 And the LORD commanded me at that time (at Mr. Sinai) to teach you STATUTES (the 2nd provision) and JUDGMENTS (the 3rd provision), that you might do them in the land whither you go over to possess it.

Levi 26:15 (KJV, the LORD’s warning) And if you shall despise my STATUTES, or if your soul abhor my JUDGMENTS, so that you will not do all my COMMANDMENTS, [but] that you break MY COVENANT (clearly the statutes, judgments and commandments were part of the covenant): 16 I also will do this unto you…(the penalties were then enumerated.)

Luke 4:4 (KJV) And Jesus answered him (the devil), saying, It is written, That MAN shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God (given in the commandments, judgments and statutes).

Section V. Definition of Terms:

• Commandments: Code of Conduct on how to become ROYAL PRIESTS, foremost of which were the Ten Commandments;
• Judgments: Laws governing inter-personal relationships such as Parents and Children, Husbands and Wives, Neighbors and Neighbors, Enemies and Friends, Masters and Servants, etc.;
• Statutes: also called Ordinances, such as Festivals, Health and Food Laws, Taxation (Tithing), Personnel Appointments, etc.,

NEXT – PART 12 – The first set of provisions, the Commandments

In studying the Commandments of God, let us not forget OUR assignment:

Mala 2:7 (KJV) For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the LAW at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger (Heb. Malak, AMBASSADOR) of the LORD of hosts.■

(Based on the writings of Moses)

-by Belo Alvaran

In our previous discussions, we have established that God gave twin sons to Abraham’s son Isaac and his wife Rebekah.  At the same time, in Gene 25:23, God made known to Rebekah a prophecy about the two boys and that was – the elder, who was Esau, shall serve the younger who was Jacob.  When the boys reached adulthood, Esau SOLD his birthright to Jacob, thus the prophecy began to be fulfilled.

Gene 25:23 And the LORD said unto Rebekah, (this was the LORD’s prophecy for the two boys) Two nations [are] in your womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from your bowels; and [the one] people shall be stronger than [the other] people; and THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER.

…27 And the boys grew: and Esau (the elder) was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob (the younger) [was] a plain man, dwelling in tents. 28 And ISAAC LOVED ESAU, because he did eat of [his] venison: but REBEKAH LOVED JACOB.

29 And Jacob sod (boiled) pottage (he probably served as cook for the family every now and then being a tent dweller): and Esau came from the field, and he [was] faint:

Sod – an old English form of seethed; boiled

30 And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray you, with that same RED [POTTAGE]; for I [am] faint: therefore was his name called Edom (meaning red).

Jacob’s offer:

31 And Jacob said, SELL ME THIS DAY YOUR BIRTHRIGHT.

Esau’s response:

32 And Esau said, Behold, I [AM] AT THE POINT TO DIE: AND WHAT PROFIT SHALL THIS BIRTHRIGHT DO TO ME?

Sale was under oath:

33 And Jacob said, SWEAR to me this day; and HE SWORE UNTO HIM: and he SOLD HIS BIRTHRIGHT unto Jacob.

Swear means make an oath.  Esau made an oath that he sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentil soup.  A vow is recognized by God as irrevocable.  One of his laws says. 

Numb 30:2 (KJV) If a man vows a vow unto the LORD, or SWEARS an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceeded out of his mouth

Note that there was no deception involved – Jacob simply offered to buy Esau’s birthright and Esau agreed to sell it.  There were no complicated behind-the-scenes maneuverings by both sides.  It was a one-shot deal which was completely above board!

Gene 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: THUS ESAU DESPISED [HIS] BIRTHRIGHT. (He practically gave it away just like that!)

The LORD, who became the Father, did not like Esau’s behavior.

Mala 1:1 (KJV) The burden of the word of the LORD TO ISRAEL by Malachi. 2 I have loved you (ISRAEL), said the LORD. Yet you say, Wherein have you loved us? [Was] not ESAU Jacob’s brother? said the LORD: yet I LOVED JACOB, 3 And I HATED ESAU, …4…They (Esau’s children) shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them,…The people against whom the LORD has indignation FOREVER. 5…The LORD will be magnified (made known) from the border of Israel (not from the border of Esau).

Paul explained the Father’s position:

Hebr 12:9 (KJV) Furthermore we have had FATHERS of our flesh which corrected [us], and we gave [them] reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the FATHER OF SPIRITS, and live?…16 Lest there [be] any…profane person, as ESAU, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. 17 For you know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

Parallelism:  We are the Church of the Firstborn and entitled to the birthright blessing from God our Father.  But many of us have taken our calling lightly, thus in effect, selling our birthright.  There are many buyers around us looking for a bargain.

Reve 3:11 (KJV) Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which you have (the birthright), that no man take your crown.

We are just giving you something to ponder.

On the strength of that sale, Jacob became legally the firstborn which entitled him to the blessing of Isaac his father.  Isaac, however, was not privy to God’s prophecy and chances were that he might have put his foot down on this ostensibly lopsided contract between his two sons.  Rebekah, seeing the LORD’s prophecy for the lads was being fulfilled, stepped in and advised Jacob to impersonate his twin brother so as to receive his father’s blessing.  Her plan went without a hitch – Isaac issued the blessing, albeit unwittingly, thus clinching the sale in Jacob’s favor.   

Let’s see Esau’s reaction in Gene 27:

Gene 27:41 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand (Isaac was very old and about to die); then WILL I SLAY MY BROTHER JACOB.

42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to REBEKAH: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, your brother Esau, as touching you, does comfort himself, [purposing] to kill you.

Rebekah advised Jacob to go to Haran for a few days:

43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee you to Laban my brother to HARAN (in Syria); 44 And tarry with him A FEW DAYS until your brother’s fury turns away; 45 Until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets [that] which you have done to him: then I will send, and fetch you from thence: why should I be deprived also of you BOTH in one day?

Rebekah took the side of God

Note that Rebekah was sorry, but not repentant because she had nothing to repent of.  Lest misunderstood, Rebekah did not do Jacob any favor although it would appear to onlookers that she did.  From all indications, she took the side of God and abetted God’s prophecy for the two lads even to her own detriment.  Strong was her faith in God.

Jesus, and God his Father, want us to take their side:

Matt 10:37 (KJV, Jesus speaking) He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Luke 11:23 (KJV, Jesus speaking) He that is not with me is against me:…

JACOB GOES TO HARAN

Jacob stayed in Haran for not A FEW DAYS only but for 20 years, Gene 31:38.

Let’s follow Jacob on his way to Haran and see whether indeed God would bless him according to his newly acquired birthright:

Gene 28:10 (KJV) And Jacob went out from Beersheba (where his father Isaac lived, located in the southern part of the mini-State of Israel today), and went (northward) toward Haran (where Abraham originally came from in ancient Syria).

11 And he lighted upon a certain place (Luz, which he renamed Bethel), and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. (He most likely took one large stone to lay his head on and used smaller ones for support to stabilize it.)

12 And he dreamed, and behold a LADDER set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Section I.  GOD’S OFFER

Gen 28:13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I [am] the LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM your father, and the GOD OF ISAAC: the land whereon you lie, to you will I (future tense) give it, and to your seed;

Note that God had two references now – ABRAHAM and ISAAC.  Let’s see if Jacob would also accept him as his God and become his third reference.  Let God continue:

14 And your seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the WEST, and to the EAST, and to the NORTH, and to the SOUTH: and in you and in your SEED shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 

Section II.  ACTS TO BE PERFORMED BY GOD

Gen 28:15 And, behold, I [am] WITH YOU, and WILL KEEP YOU IN ALL [PLACES] WHITHER YOU GO, and will BRING YOU AGAIN INTO THIS LAND (Luz, which Jacob renamed Bethel); for I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU, until I have done [that] which I have spoken to you of. (We shall see that Jacob returned to Bethel later on at God’s instruction)

16 And Jacob awoke out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew [it] not.

…19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city [was called] Luz at the first.

Section III.  JACOB PROPOSES AMENDMENTS TO GOD’S OFFER

20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, (repeating God’s terms) IF God will be WITH ME, and will KEEP me in this way that I go, and (Jacob’s added terms) (1) will give me bread to eat, and (2) raiment to put on, 21 So that (as part of God’s offer) I come again to my father’s house in peace;…

Section IV.  ACTS TO BE PERFORMED BY JACOB

…THEN SHALL THE LORD BE MY GOD.

In short, Jacob negotiated two added items with God.  God’s silence was, from all indications, acquiescence because when he introduced himself to Moses and to the Israelites, Jacob’s name was added among his references:

Exod 3:6 (KJV, God introducing himself to Moses and later on to the Israelites) Moreover he said, I [am] the God of your father, the GOD OF ABRAHAM, the GOD OF ISAAC, AND the GOD OF JACOB…

In conclusion, clearly, GOD BECAME THE GOD OF JACOB!  God said so!

UPDATES

Item I.  GOD FULFILLS HIS COMMITMENTS TO JACOB UNDER THEIR COVENANT:

To summarize God’s blessings to Jacob, God gave him two wives and two concubines, eleven children (Benjamin was not yet born at that time, Gene 32:22) and thousands of livestock.  In short, he became a rich man. 

However, when Laban his father-in-law saw that Jacob was being blessed by God, he stopped being kind to him until one day, God instructed him in a dream to return to the land where he came from, Gene 31:13.  God was now fulfilling the terms of their berith. Jacob and his wives decided to leave without farewells and return to Beersheba.  Laban pursued them and caught up with them at Mizpa, but God warned Laban in a dream not to harm Jacob, hence Laban was constrained to make peace with his son-in-law.

Here we can see again that God was keeping His part of the COVENANT with Jacob.  Let’s follow the story in Gene.32 to see God in action.

ANGELS OF GOD MEET JACOB

Gene 32:1 (KJV) And Jacob went on his way (from Mizpah where he had just met with Laban), and THE ANGELS OF GOD MET HIM.

2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This [is] God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim. {Mahanaim: that is, Two Hosts, or, camps – i.e., God’s camp and Jacob’s camp)}

We can see that God was WITH Jacob, and, most important, God was KEEPING him in the way as God promised under their COVENANT.  In short, God was fulfilling His part in their COVENANT.

JACOB’S JOURNEY HOME

To appreciate Jacob’s situation, Jacob was traveling along the Jordan River apparently for continued water supply for his livestock. 

After twenty years of hiding from Esau (Gene 31:38), Jacob was to pass through Esau’s territory.  The Bible didn’t say whether Esau was still angry with him.

Gene 32:3 And Jacob sent MESSENGERS before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall you speak unto my lord Esau; Your servant Jacob said thus, I have sojourned with Laban (their uncle), and stayed there until now: 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace (mercy or forgiveness) in your sight.

6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and also he comes to meet you, and FOUR HUNDRED MEN with him.

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that [was] with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 8 And said, If Esau comes to the one company, and smites it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

Item II.  JACOB CALLS ON GOD

Gene.32:9 And Jacob said (in prayer), O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which said unto me, Return unto your country, and to your kindred, and I will deal well with you:

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which you have showed unto your servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands (Leah and Rachel; the other women were bondmaids who belonged to their respective mistress). 

11 Deliver me, I pray you, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, [and] the mother with the children. 

Jacob invokes God’s promise in the covenant:

12 And you said, I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Item III.  Jacob took a part of God’s material blessings to him as PEACE OFFERINGS to Esau. 

Gene.32:13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a PRESENT for Esau his brother;

14 TWO HUNDRED she goats, and TWENTY HE GOATS, Two Hundred ewes, and TWENTY RAMS,

15 THIRTY milch (female) camels with their colts, FORTY kine (female cows), and TEN BULLS, TWENTY SHE ASSES, and TEN FOALS.

16 And he delivered [them] into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space between drove and drove.

17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, saying, Whose [are] you? and whither go you? and whose [are] these before you?

18 Then you shall say, [They are] your servant Jacob’s; it [is] a PRESENT sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he [is] behind us.

19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall you speak unto Esau, when you find him.

20 And say you moreover, Behold, your servant Jacob [is] behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the PRESENT that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. 

21 So went the PRESENT over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.

23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 

Item IV.  OVERCOMING – GOD’S REQUIREMENT FOR JACOB

Since Jacob added his own terms to the COVENANT, God also added something to it.  In political and diplomatic terms, this is called Quid Pro Quo or QPQ (i.e., give or take in return for something).   

Gene.32:24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  25 And when the man saw that he prevailed not against Jacob, the man touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26 And the man said, Let me go, for the day breaks. And Jacob said, I will not let you go, except you bless me.  27 And the man said unto Jacob, What [is] your name? And he said, Jacob.

Item V.  THE LORD CHANGES JACOB’S NAME TO ISRAEL

28 And the man said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but ISRAEL: for as a PRINCE have you power with God and with men, and have prevailed. {Israel: that is, A prince of God}

Note that ISRAEL means “PRINCE”.  The word “Israelites” therefore means “princes”. 

As an aside, some Gentiles were grafted into the Israelite olive tree, Roma 11:13.  Therefore those Gentiles are now counted among “princes”:

Roma 11:13 (KJV, Paul speaking) For I speak to you GENTILES, inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation [them (Israelites) which are] my flesh, and might save some of them…16 For if the firstfruit (who is Christ) [be] holy, the lump (the rest of the Israelites) [is] also [holy]: and if the root (Abraham) [be] holy, so [are] the branches (the different tribes of Israel). 17 And if SOME of the branches be broken off (the lost tribes), and you (Gentiles), being a wild olive tree, were grafted in their stead, (which makes them also holy), and with them partake of the root and fatness (God’s blessings) of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches…

Item V.  GOD SOFTENS ESAU’S HEART:

Prov 16:7 (KJV) When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies (plural) to be at peace with him.

This is one principle that we need to know.  If we have many enemies, more likely than not, our ways don’t please God. Having one or two enemies may be normal, but having many is abnormal living.

Gene 33:1 (KJV) And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah (the bride) and her children after, and Rachel (his favorite) and Joseph hindermost.

3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven (7) times, until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and THEY WEPT. (Obviously, Esau was no longer angry with Jacob)

5 And Esau lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who [are] those with you? And Jacob said, The children which God had graciously given your servant. 

6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

8 And Esau said, What [mean] you by all those droves which I met? And Jacob said, [Those are] to find grace in the sight of my lord.  9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that you have unto yourself.

Item VI.  JACOB RECOGNIZES GOD’S INTERVENTION IN HIS AFFAIRS

10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray you, if now I have found grace in your sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen your face, as though I have seen the face of God, and YOU WERE PLEASED WITH ME. 11 Take, I pray you, my blessing that is brought to you; because GOD HAD DEALT GRACIOUSLY WITH ME, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and Esau took [it]. 

Thus, Jacob’s presents, which were God’s blessings to him, redeemed him from possible, just possible, death at the hand of his brother. His gifts came from God. God, in effect, paid for Jacob’s life. 

Item VII.  GOD BECOMES THE GOD OF JACOB

Moses confirmed that in Deut 32.

Deut 32:8 (KJV) When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. (These people were His chosen materials to reproduce Himself.)  9 For the LORD’S portion [is] his people; JACOB [is] the lot (cord) of his inheritance.

The word ‘lot,’ means cord in Hebrew. Jacob was the cord, the binding rope or limit of God’s inheritance. God was to start among Jacob’s descendants His purpose in Gen. 1:26 to create man after His own likeness.

Jacob becomes the apple of the LORD’s eye

10 He (the LORD) found Jacob in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. 

We should remember this important term: apple of His eye. Jacob was the apple of God’s eye.  We shall see later on that we are also the apple of His eye.

11 As an eagle stirs up her nest, flutters over her young, spreads abroad her wings, takes them, bears them on her wings: 12 [So] the LORD alone did lead him, (in short, God was WITH him, in accordance with their COVENANT) and [THERE WAS] NO STRANGE GOD WITH HIM. 

God blessed Jacob according to the COVENANT

13  He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock; 14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan (must be a good breed), and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat (oats?) and he (Jacob) did drink the pure blood (wine) of the grape.

One of God’s original offers to Jacob was to bring him back to Bethel.  God fulfilled it.

Gen 28:15 (Jacob was in Bethel) And, behold, I [am] WITH YOU, and WILL KEEP YOU IN ALL [PLACES] WHITHER YOU GO, and will BRING YOU AGAIN INTO THIS LAND (Bethel); for I will not leave you, until I have done [that] which I have spoken to you of.

Gene 35:1 (KJV) And (after Jacob’s sons Simeon and Levi killed the men of Shechem after Shechem, the crown prince, raped their sister Dinah) God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to BETHEL, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God that appeared unto you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother.

2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that [were] with him, PUT AWAY THE STRANGE GODS THAT [ARE] AMONG YOU, and be clean, and change your garments:

This Jacob’s action made it clear that God was indeed his God:

3 And let us arise, and go up to BETHEL; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was WITH ME in the way which I went.

4 And they gave unto Jacob ALL THE STRANGE GODS WHICH [WERE] IN THEIR HAND, and [all their] earrings which [were] in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the OAK which [was] by Shechem. 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that [were] round about them (who were probably sympathetic with the men of Shechem), and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

SUMMARY: God abides by His berith for Abraham and confirmed it to Isaac and Jacob. God is a faithful God. 

Deut 7:9 (KJV) Know therefore that the LORD your God, he [is] God, the faithful God, who keeps berith (COVENANT, to be their God) and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

By virtue of His Berith for Abraham, God was duty-bound to give the lands He promised to Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites. 

Next: Chapter 11: God opens his berith to accession by the Israelites.  The reader might entertain a question:  Did the Israelites accept God as their God?  Prepare to be surprised!

(Based on the writings of Moses)

-by Belo Alvaran

FOREWORD

As mentioned in Gene 17:7, God’s berith for Abraham was open to ACCESSION by his descendants.  In law, ACCESSION means formal acceptance of a convention or treaty.  Here is the pertinent provision in God’s berith:

Gene 17:7 (The LORD speaking to Abraham) And I will RATIFY my berith between me and you and (through accession) YOUR SEED AFTER YOU (i.e., if they decided to accept God’s terms) in their generations for an EVERLASTING berit)…

This is the main proviso of God’s berith for Abraham

…7…TO BE A GOD UNTO YOU AND TO YOUR SEED AFTER YOU.

For a review of our previous discussions, we have established that this proviso – to be a God unto you – was the main focus, the central idea, of God’s berith for Abraham and his seed.  After Abraham acceded to it, God introduced himself to Isaac as the God of Abraham. 

Let’s fast forward to Genesis 17:24:

Gene 17:24 And (after Isaac had dug several wells in Gerar) the LORD appeared unto him the same night, and said, I [AM] THE GOD OF ABRAHAM your father: fear not, for I [am] with you, and will bless you, and multiply your seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Let’s fast forward to chapter 26 to see Isaac’s response to God’s overture:

ACCESSION BY ISAAC

Gene 26:1 (KJV) And there was a famine in the land, beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And ISAAC went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines unto Gerar.

2 And the LORD appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt; dwell in the land which I shall tell you of:

Section I.  ACTS TO BE PERFORMED BY ISAAC:

3 Sojourn in this land (Gerar),

Section II.  ACTS TO BE PERFORMED BY GOD:

and I will be with you, and will bless you; for unto you, and unto your seed, I will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath which I swore unto Abraham your father;

4 And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;

5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Section III.  ISAAC’S RESPONSE

6 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar…

Note that Isaac simply fulfilled the OBEDIENCE requirement after God told him to stay in Gerar, thus, by his action, HE ACCEPTED GOD AS HIS GOD.  In this case, action speaks better than words.  His acceptance may be “implied” but discernibly affirmative.

There is nothing much to discuss in this berith except that Isaac acceded to God’s berith for Abraham and accepted God as his God.   

By now we should be getting familiar with God’s covenant or berith for Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,and that is, TO BE A GOD UNTO YOU.  This was also God’s berith for all of us under the new dispensation:

Hebr 11:6 (KJV) …[H]e that comes to God must believe that God is God,and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Believing presupposes acceptance.  God wants to know if we accept him as our God.  This is important with God since people can make a god out of anything, even their own belly.

Jame 2:23 (KJV) And the scripture was fulfilled which said, ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Phil 3:18 (KJV, Paul speaking) (For many walk, of whom I have told you…that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose GOD [IS THEIR] BELLY, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

We will discuss in detail later on what God requires of us.

NEXT: Chapter 10: Accession by Jacob