His Inheritance And Ours
Ephraim Frank
Shalom Fellow Yisraelite,
Before I get into this letter, I want to bring you up to
date as to a couple of miracles that have just taken place, or are they?
Our sworn enemies (Ps. 83) have suddenly decided to warm up to us. The
Jordanian and Egyptian ambassadors, who left Yisrael at the start of the
Palestinian present war of attrition against us, are returning, and Kuwait,
Libya and Morocco are forming trade relations with us. Now, doesn’t that
sound just wonderful?! However, we are wondering what kind of concessions have
already been made by our government to merit these rewards by these
nations. Somehow I don’t think it is because we are removing a few
settlers and dismantling their homes, nor is it a reward for releasing some
Egyptian would-be-terrorists. What were the VERY painful concessions that
Ariel Sharon spoke about in his speech at the annual international policy
making conference just held in Yisrael? Why is a unity government being
put into place with Shimon Peres as deputy Prime Minister? We will see as
you tune in tomorrow to “As the World Turns”… or now that Arafat is no longer
gracing the stage it could be “The Brave and the Beautiful”.
“The counsel of YHVH stands for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all
generations. Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH; and the people whom he
has chosen for his own inheritance” (Ps. 34:11-12). “For YHVH'S portion
is his people; Ya’acov is the lot of his inheritance” (Deu. 32:9). “For
I am YHVH, I change not; therefore you sons of Ya’acov are not consumed” (Mal.3:6).
What encouraging words for those of us who have seen and experienced personally
the fulfillment of Malachi: 4:6 “And he will turn the hearts of the
fathers [Patriarchs] to the children [their progeny], and the hearts of
the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a
curse"! We now have no doubt about the faithfulness of YHVH, His
lovingkindness and His tender mercies. We also have the advantage of
understanding the prophetic word of YHVH as it refers to this generation of His
nation - His inheritance Yisrael (both houses). Even the head of the
first Messianic Believers in Jerusalem, Ya’acov (James), addresses his letter
to the twelve tribes that are scattered abroad and speaks to them about a
Father of lights who has no variation or shadow of turning (see James 1:1,
17). Ya’acov then continues with these words: “In the exercise of His
will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we might be, as it were,
the first fruits among His creatures” (James 1:18).
YHVH said, “Ephraim is My first born [first fruit]” (Jer. 31:9), and “Yisrael is My son, My first–born” (Ex.4:22). YHVH’s loyalty and consistence to His word is vital for our faith, because had He not proven Himself faithful to His covenant bride Yisrael and had He gone after another, we would have an adulterer for a husband. Likewise, if we preach another bride or another inheritance we become a false witness: “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaks lies shall not escape”(Pro. 19:5). The commandments of YHVH enjoin us not to bear false witness, especially against the One who enacted them. We, of the redeemed remnant of Yisrael, are to sing a new song; “Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of YHVH is right; and all his works are done in truth” (Psa. 33:3-4).
What works?
“Therefore thus says YHVH, who redeemed Avraham, concerning the house of Ya’acov, Ya’acov shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale. But when he sees his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Ya’acov, and shall fear the Elohim of Yisrael. They also which erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine” (Isa. 29:22-24).
We can really be encouraged today: “For behold, days are coming,’ declares YHVH, ‘when I will restore the captivity of My people Yisrael and Yehuda. I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall posses it’” (Jer. 30:2). “In those days the house of Yehuda will walk with the house of YYisrael, and they will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your fathers as an inheritance” (Jer. 3:18).
Yes, we are YHVH’s inheritance but He also gave us an inheritance (see Josh 1:4). As mentioned in the above scripture, the land promised to our forefathers awaits redemption just as we had to be redeemed (by Yeshua). The house of Judah began to redeem their portion of the land of Yisrael, but in the course of world events and pressures all around they are relinquishing their rights to their inheritance and compromising the contract that YHVH had made with them. The big question before Ephraim, (a firstborn and redeemer), is he willing to take up the responsibility and redeem the rest of the inheritance?
Ephraim
How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell
together
in unity....for in this YHVH commands the blessing life eternal (Ps.
133).