“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” Mal (/Mal’akiy) 3: 5-6
A Clarion or Trumpet Call to Repent.
Am addressing this as a clarion, or trumpet call to the Body of Christ, but particularly to Hebrew Israelites everywhere to whom I am first and foremostly called. Am fully aware that what I am about to say may seem blatantly obvious to most. However, on the basis of Israel’s track record it would appear, that it isn’t at all obvious to Israel. It’s fair to say that this one singular issue, is the main recurring theme, that runs throughout the story of the Hebrew Israelites, even from the days of our forefathers to the present, it’s essence marks all of us as a people, and has marred us. In the main, we have consistently failed to address it either personally or corporately, yet, and perhaps for this reason, It has spoiled and diminished us, even causing the Prophet Jeremiah or Yirmeyahu to question:
Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?” Jer 2:14
And even the Lord, Adonai to conclude “O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.” Hos (/Husha) 13:9.
As a people we need to take instruction from the Words of John (the Baptist). John was a prophet who came in the spirit of Elijah (according to Malachi (/Mal’akiy) 3:5), as a Voice to prepare the hearts of the people, not by miracles and signs, but by reason and entreaty to receive their coming Messiah/Mashiach/Yissiayah. Just as Christ, calls us now. We need now, finally in the end of days to once and for all, turn from this besetting sin, to REPENT and take steps to amend, and Prepare and make straight (Our Hearts), which are God’s paths, before Christ’s return on the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
This sin, is the principal sin of Judah, which Jer (/Yirmeyahu) 17:1 reminds us is
"Written (before our God/Yah) with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their (hard and inpenitent) hearts, and upon the horns of their altars.”
If you recall the most holy, and choicest of Israel’s sacrifices were bound with cords to the horns of the altar of sacrifice, (Ps (/Tehilliym) 118:27) yet this singular sin then as now, tainted absolutely everything, including their offerings, sacrifices, and prayers, polluting the sanctuary and ultimately destroyed the nation itself.
What was this sin? It was the sin of disobedience.
It is time For Israel/ Yisolele to turn back to her God, to seek His face, and this time to commit to truthfully obey Him, which is something we haven’t completely done hitherto.
Scriptures throughout the Old, or First Testament abound with the Lord’s/Adonai repeated lament for Israel, we have literally made the Lord miserable with our disobedience, and weary with our repeated refusal to hear, and obey his voice. In Amos 2:13, he says: “Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves”.
In Ez 2:7 he says: “And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious.”
“Thus saith the Lord/(YAHUAH), I brought this people out of bondage, and I gave them my commandments by menservants the prophets; whom they would not hear, but despised my counsels” 2 Esdras (/ 4 Ezra /Ezra Reviy’iy) 2:1
Infact rather embarrassingly would you believe, it is the central identifying characteristic or trait by which Israel is known among the nations (in all the countries and places where she is scattered) to this very day, Jer (/Yirmeyahu) 50:7 says it’s also used as the justification by the nations for their abuse and mistreatment of Israel:
“All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the Lord, the habitation of justice, even the Lord, the hope of their fathers.”
The heart of Israel was, and to this day remains so calcified by this one sin, that it had turned it into an adamant harder than granite itself, the toughest stone that had to be hewed in order to be written upon, not with a normal iron chisel, as is customary for engraving stone, but with an engraving tool of iron whose tip was fortified with a diamond.
"The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;" Jer (/Yirmeyahu) 17:1
Hebrew Israel's Rebellion
The Word of Yahuah in 1 Sam (/Shemuel Ri’Shon) 15:22 says Israel, being often reproved, in either not, or in some cases only partially heeding the commandments of her Abba Yah grew a particularly virulent strain of rebellion, or stiff-neck, that became totally, and fatally resistant even to the entreaties of her God. What an indictment, and all the more damning, because we/ Israel continue in this sin to the present day, unaware of the severity of its consequences. This singular sin is the root-cause of the Lord’s controversy with the children of Israel, who in their disobedience are spiritually ‘
Hos (/Husha) 4:12 describes the fruits of Disobedience “Because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. 2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.” Hos (/Husha) 4:1-2. When you set truth aside, prepare yourself for an avalanche of every evil work:
"And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter." Is (/Yeshayahu) 59:14
The ultimate result for Israel, was disaster. Eventually a point was reached when YAHUAH, through the mouths of His prophets could/ would no longer entreat:
“Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
2 And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
3 And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the LORD: the sword to slay, and the dogs to tear, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth, to devour and destroy.
4 And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.” Jer (/Yirmeyahu) 15:1
Am not sure whether everyone is understanding the full gravity of this prophecy? I know I've looked at it many times, but didn’t fully register, that essentially Jeremiah or Yirmeyahu, (as his name is more correctly, in Hebrew), is saying that three-quarters of the population of Israel in his day were effectively slain by 3 ways, which manifested as Israel being destroyed by either war, the sword-violence, or disaster, including famine, excepting for a remnant a 4th part, (a quarter of the population only) who would only escape death by going into captivity.
Why were they cut-off?
Because of this self-same sin of disobedience. I Sam (Shemuel Rishon) 15:23-24 reminds us:
“…Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubborness is as the iniquity of idolatry." 1 Sam (Schmuel Rishon) 15:22
Israel & The Sin of Manesseh Today
We are told more specifically,in this instance that this befell the people on account of the sin of their King, Manasseh. However, as I will show you and as our history attests this pattern of destruction whereby part of the nation is slain and the surviving remainder then go into captivity has, lamentably, been a recurring event throughout our long history. To such an extent that:
if you are a Hebrew who is alive today, you are ony alive at all, because you fell into this category or remnant, whose lives only were preserved through captivity.
Everyone else was slain. Pls think about that...
So what was the sin of Manesseh? In The Ascension of Isaiah, Ch 2:1-4 we are told, concerning Manesseh:
“AND it came to pass after that Hezekiah died and Manasseh became king, that he did not remember the commands of Hezekiah his father, but forgat them, and Sammael abode in Manasseh and clung fast to him. 2. And Manasseh forsook the service of the God of his father, and he served Satan and his angels and his powers. 3. And he turned aside the house of his father, which had been before the face of Hezekiah (from) the words of wisdom and from the service of God. 4. And Manasseh turned aside his heart to serve Beliar; for the angel of lawlessness, who is the ruler of this world, is Beliar, whose name is Mantanbuchus. and he delighted in Jerusalem because of Manasseh, and he made him strong in apostatizing (Israel) and in the lawlessness which were spread abroad in Jerusalem.
5. And witchcraft and magic increased and divination and auguration, and fornication, [and adultery], and the persecution of the righteous by Manasseh and [Belachira, and] Tobia the Canaanite, and John of Anathoth, and by (Zadok) the chief of the works.
6. And the rest of the acts, behold they are written in the book of the Kings of Judah and Israel”
Then as now, it would appear that very little has changed. Unfortunately, it would seem that many of Israel’s leaders still have a penchant for serving, and proselythizing our nation for satan. Such practices as joining sororities or fraternities for example, are seen as so normal, and are even boasted of, or worn as badges of honour by many within our community, that it barely even raises an eyebrow. Infact, so emboldened have some Hebrews become in this, that many, have even presumed to come out of these institutions and establish Christian Churches. However, you see from Jer (Yermeyahu) 15:1 the dilemma for Israel? Or the judgement this brought down upon the whole people in Manesseh's day, and continues to bring down to this very day upon the whole nation. YAHUAH has said that consequently Israel's shepherds have been key players in the destruction of Israel (Jer / Yirmeyahu 12:10). The requirement is that "The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies" (Zep 3:13). "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: (to know that as Israel we should not do such things) I speak this to your shame." (1 Cor (/Qorintiym Rishon) 15:34)
"Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant" Is (/Yeshayahu) 42:19
Israel has never escaped the consequence of this particular sin, yet unfortunately she persists in repeatedly returning to it. Isn’t a definition for insanity described as doing the same thing repeatedly yet expecting a different result? Hear even the Lord’s lament, because it is not only dangerous to constantly repeat a life-threatening sin, but also makes the Lord feel as though he wasted His time in sending His prophets to record and warn us through His word, not to do these things:
“How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain.” Jer (/Yirmeyahu) 8:8
Despite our falling into many captivities, of which it is true, we were not altogether previously aware that we had, as we didn't previously know who we were. However, an awakening amongst our people is now causing us to recollect our identity, and to recover our history. Now we know that we are Israel, and we have proven that none of these things have ever worked out for us in the past, I mean in terms of moving ourselves and our people forwards, at what point do we acknowledge and turnaround and try a different way? as opposed to making another attempt to go around the same mountain.
"Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting.
7 And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people, since they return not from their ways." Jer (/Yirmeyahu)15:6-7
Therefore have I hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth." Hos (/Husha) 6:5
As Hebrew Israelites we need to face a very uncomfortable truth, that the challenges we face, globally, no matter where on the planet you find Hebrew Israelites the problems, challenges and conditions remain the same. We have sinned, and failed to HEARKEN, that is, to both listen and do the things that God has commanded us to do, and THAT, is the reason that all of these things have happened to us. In ignoring His instructions, we have made our Abba Yahuah our enemy. He is no respecter of persons, (Acts (/Ma'asiym)10:34) He cannot stand together with us on the side of our sin because we are His people.
Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”
Gen (/Bereshiyth)18:25 tells us He is too righteous for that. Perhaps more seriously the word of God reminds us in1 Sam (Schmuel Rishon) 2:25
"If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him?"
Adonai has in no way hidden that he would do these things to us if we failed to heed his instructions and do His commandments. Unfortunately we simply didn't hear:
"Who gave Jacob (/Ya'aqov) for a spoil, and Israel to the robbers? did not the Lord (/YAHUAH), He against whom we have sinned?
for they would not walk in his ways, neither were they obedient unto his law.
25 Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart." Is (Yeshayahu) 42:24-25
His covenant of the blessing and the curse) is on our lives, and it works by the simple mechanism of our Obedience. This is why we were instructed by Moses:
"And it shall come to pass, IF THOU SHALT HEARKEN DILIGENTLY unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and TO DO all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, IF THOU SHALT HEARKEN unto the voice of the Lord thy God." Deut (/Devarim) 28:1
We don't as a people, so much need to be so much engaged in activism, and campaigning for our civil liberties and rights as we need to REPENT and RETURN to our God. Is 30:15 reminds us: "For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel;
In RETURNING" (Repentance) "and REST shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.”
We need to accept that nothing is fundamentally going to change until we do.
"For Moses truly said unto the Fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me; Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever He shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people." Acts (/Ma'asiym) 3: 22-23
Christ, is that prophet, whose coming was foretold by Moses. Look at the severity of the consequence for failing to heed the words of this Prophet. O how we have misunderstood the Gospel of CHRIST, Israel and sinners believe REBELLION is a survivable option. Often as Christians we see Salvation as the end goal of our walk with Christ. However, it only really marks the beginning of our journey, in starting to walk in obedience to His word and instructions. Our failure to realise this will result in many who believe they are saved, being cut off, or hearing those fateful words on the Day of Judgement, 'Depart from me I never knew you'. Remember a family of just 8 people were saved in the first world,
"Straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to life and few there be that find it" Matt (/Mattithyahu) 7:14
Obedience is an important Key for Salvation.
Will you return and acknowledge Christ as your Saviour? or if you have already taken this important step, will you acknowledge where perhaps you haven't been as diligent to obey His voice and heed His instructions, as you should have been in the past, and commit to both better hearing and doing his will moving forwards? and then go do it?
Then let's conclude with this simple prayer:
PRAYER TO RECEIVE CHRIST AS SAVIOUR & REPENT FROM SIN OF DISOBEDIENCE
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I know I am a sinner. I ask for your forgiveness.
I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead.
I turn from my sins, and invite you into my heart.
I want to trust, follow you and be obedient to do your words, obey your will and do your instructions, from this time on.
Amen.
God is waiting for us,to take this simple heart-corrective step towards Him. His love for us, faithfulness and His promises are sure.
"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." 2 Cor (Qorintiym Sheniy) 5:20
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