The Chosen People
Part 3
By DON ESPOSITO
When we look at the plan of Yahweh up to this point in history, it is very clear. Mankind, since Adam, has chosen to go against the eternal laws set down by Yahweh Himself at the Garden of Eden. In doing so, just as Adam our forefather was cast out of Eden and away from Yahweh’s presence, so mankind has been given 6,000 years to go his own way. He has been allowed to build his own societies, make his own laws, and even his own governments. Every school system, government agency, and, sad to say, even churches are the invention of man.
Adam and Eve had a choice to make. Follow and obey all of our Creator’s laws, civil and natural, or chose his own way and follow the system of Satan the Devil. They chose the way of Satan and the world, and all mankind has been paying the price ever since. Satan is the prince of this world, and all earthly governments are in his control.
Luk 4:5-7 And leading Him (Yahshua) up into a high mountain, the Devil showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the Devil said to Him, I will give all this authority and their glory to You, because it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Then if You worship before me, all will be Yours.
Notice that Yahshua never questioned Satan’s authority over the kingdoms of this world. Make this point clear in your mind, because it is essential in understanding the plan of Yahweh through the 12 tribes of Israel. The world system that we consider to be normal is the system of Satan the devil. People will sometimes ask, “If there is an Elohim in heaven, why is there so much suffering in the world?” It is because mankind has chosen the way of Satan instead of the way of Yahweh.
That was the whole point in making covenant with Abraham, because Abraham did not go the way of Adam but chose to follow the way of Yahweh.
Gen 26:4-5 And I will increase your seed like the stars of the heavens, and I will give to your seed all these lands. And all the nations of the earth shall bless themselves in your Seed, because Abraham listened to My voice and heeded My charge, My commands, My statutes, and My laws.
Abraham was obedient to the laws of Yahweh, and because of this Yahweh blessed him with the promise of a covenant relationship. When you are in a covenant relationship, it not only includes you, but all of your offspring forever. Abraham had the choice, just like Adam and Eve, to go the way of Satan and the world, or to follow the everlasting laws of Yahweh our Creator. He chose to follow Yahweh, and his seed has been promised to be blessed for eternity.
Sad to say, so many who call themselves Christians also follow the way of Adam and believe that Yahweh’s laws are done away with. Just think for one moment. Think about all the evil in the world today, more evil than has ever been on this planet. Then think, “Is all this evil in the world here because mankind is obeying Yahweh’s eternal laws, or because they are disobeying?”
Think about the city where you live today, and then think about how that city would be if everyone in that city only obeyed one of the Ten Commandments, such as “thou shall not steal.” There would be no kidnappings, no robbery of homes, prices would be much cheaper due to no increase of goods due to stolen merchandise, and there would be no locks on any doors. Now, does that sound like slavery or freedom? Satan has deceived most of Christianity today into believing that our Heavenly Father’s laws bring bondage, instead of freedom.
When Yahshua the Messiah returns, He will establish Yahweh’s laws over all the earth, beginning at Jerusalem.
Mic 4:1-2 But it shall be in the end of the days, the mountain of the house of Yahweh shall be established on the top of the mountains; and it shall be lifted up from the hills; and peoples shall flow on it. And many nations shall come and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the Elohim of Jacob. And He will teach us from His ways, and we will walk in His paths. For the Law shall go forth out of Zion, and the Word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
What a beautiful time that will be. Scripture tells us there will be no more wars or famines, and the whole earth will be at peace, because all the earth will be obeying all of Yahweh’s laws.
This is what our heavenly Father has been doing for the last 6,000 years; He has been working to restore mankind back to a relationship with Him. First, the sins of mankind have to be paid for; that was done through the blood of His Son. Then mankind must see that obedience to our Heavenly Father only brings blessings, and disobedience is what brings cursing.
That is where Abraham and the Nation of Israel come into the picture; because of Abraham’s obedience to Yahweh in everything, He made the everlasting covenant through his lineage. Because of the terms of a blood covenant, every family member of the covenant party automatically also becomes a covenant partner, if he so chooses, when he is of age. This is why the Messiah had to come through the seed of Abraham. The Torah tells us in Exo 23:
Exo 21:23-24 But if injury occurs, you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot
If the Messiah was only a man, His life would be worth only one other life; only as the very Son of the Creator, and also co-Creator of the universe, can His life be worth more than all human life combined.
So Yahweh blessed Abraham to make covenant with his family, and through his lineage the Messiah would come. Remember, Yahweh only entered this most sacred covenant with the seed of Abraham; with no other nation or family on earth did He enter into such a covenant.
The purpose of this was to separate Israel from every other family and nation on earth, to set them as an example of what happens when one obeys Yahweh’s laws. When Israel was obedient, they would be blessed tremendously with rain and food and full abundance.
Deut 28:1 And it shall be if listening you will listen to the voice of Yahweh your Elohim, taking heed to do all His commandments which I command you this day, Yahweh your Elohim shall give you to be on high above all nations of the earth.
Deut 28:2 And all these blessings shall come on you and overtake you if you will listen to the voice of Yahweh your Elohim.
Deut 28:3 You shall be blessed in the city, and you shall be blessed in the field.
Deut 28:4 The fruit of your body shall be blessed, and the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, the offspring of your oxen, and the young ones of your flock.
Deut 28:5 Your basket and your kneadingtrough shall be blessed.
Deut 28:6 You shall be blessed when you come in, and you shall be blessed when you go out.
Deut 28:7 Yahweh shall cause your enemies that rise up against you to be stricken before your face. They shall come out against you one way, and flee before you seven ways.
Deut 28:8 Yahweh shall command the blessing on you in your storehouses and all that you set your hand to. And He shall bless you in the land which Yahweh your Elohim is giving to you.
Deut 28:9 Yahweh shall establish you a holy people to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you shall keep the commands of Yahweh your Elohim and welcome His ways.
Deut 28:10 And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the Name of Yahweh, and they shall fear you.
It was a very simple plan.When all the other nations would see the obedience of Israel and the blessings that followed that obedience, then they also would want to follow the laws of Yahweh, to receive the same blessings.
These blessings went much further than just the birthright and scepter promises that we have spoken about. They went on to include national blessings of prosperity and blessings of all their land, and blessings against disease and famine. All these blessings would come to Israel, if only Israel would obey his law (Torah in Hebrew).
At the same time, if Israel disobeyed, there had to be consequences. It would defeat the whole purpose of the plan of separating Israel for national prosperity for obedience, if there were no consequences for disobeying Yahweh’s Torah (law). There would be no incentive for other nations to want to obey Yahweh, if they saw they could get the same benefits for disobeying.
Not only did Israel fail at obeying Yahweh’s Torah, they failed miserably. Not only did they disobey His laws and break His Sabbaths (The very sign that tells Who the Elohim of Israel is) but they worshipped false deities of wood and stone.
Eze 20:5-8 And say to them, So says the Almighty Yahweh: In the day I chose Israel and lifted My hand to the seed of the house of Jacob, and I was made known to them in the land of Egypt, when I lifted up My hand to them, saying, I am Yahweh your Elohim. in that day I lifted up My hand to them to bring them out from the land of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey that I had searched out for them, the glory of it is to all lands. Then I said to them, Let each man cast away the filthy idols of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am Yahweh your Elohim. But they rebelled against Me and would not listen to Me. They did not each man throw away the filthy idols of their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, I will pour out My fury against them, to complete My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.
Eze 20:19-24 I am Yahweh your Elohim, walk in My statutes, and keep My judgments, and do them. And keep My Sabbaths holy, and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am Yahweh your Elohim. But the sons rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes, and they did not keep My judgments, to do them, which if a man does them, he shall live by them. They profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them, to fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. But I withdrew My hand and acted for My Name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, from whom I brought them out in their eyes. And I lifted up My hand to them in the wilderness, to scatter them among the nations and sow them among the lands, because they had not done My judgments and had despised My statutes and had profaned My Sabbaths. And their eyes were after their fathers’ idols.
Jer 11:2-5 Hear the Words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to those living in Jerusalem, and say to them, So says Yahweh, the Elohim of Israel, Cursed is the man who does not obey the Words of this covenant, which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey My voice and do them according to all that I command you, so that you shall be My people, and I will be your Elohim; in order to establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then I answered and said, Amen, O Yahweh.
Jer 11:6-11 And Yahweh said to me, Declare all these Words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear the Words of this covenant and do them. For I solemnly warned your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, to this day rising early and warning, saying, Obey My voice. Yet they did not obey nor stretch out their ear, but each one walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart. And I will bring on them all the Words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not do. And Yahweh said to me, A plot is found among the men of Judah, and among those living in Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who 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 which I cut with their fathers. So Yahweh says this: Behold, I will bring evil on them from which they shall not be able to escape. And though they cry to Me, I will not listen to them.
So we can see that Israel did not follow Yahweh’s plan, and through unfaithfulness (spiritual adultery) they broke His covenant. As we have learned, it is a serious thing to break a blood covenant, and there have to be serious consequences, as Leviticus 26 outlines.
Lev 26:14-20 And if you will not listen to Me, and do not do all these commands; and if you reject My statutes, and if your soul hates My judgments, so as not to do all My commands, to the breaking of My covenant; I will also do this to you, and I shall appoint terror over you, the wasting, and the burning fever, destroying the eyes, and consuming the soul; and you shall sow your seed in vain, and your enemies will eat it. And I shall set My face against you, and you shall be smitten before your enemies; and those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee, and there will be no one pursuing you. And if after these things you will not listen to Me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sin; and I will break the pride of your strength, and will make your heavens as iron, and your earth as bronze; and your strength shall be consumed in vain, and your land shall not give her produce, and the tree of the land shall not give its fruit.
Lev 26:21-26 And if you walk contrary to Me, and are not willing to listen to Me, then I will bring seven times more plagues on you according to your sins, and send against you the beast of the field, and it shall bereave you. And I shall cut off your livestock and shall make you few, so that your ways are desolate. And if you are not chastised by Me by these things, and shall walk contrary to Me, then I, I also, shall walk contrary to you, and shall smite you, even I, seven times more for your sins; and I will bring a sword on you, executing the vengeance of the covenant, and you shall be gathered to your cities, and I shall send pestilence into your midst; and you shall be given into the hand of an enemy. When I break to you the staff of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and shall give back your bread by weight; and you shall eat, and shall not be satisfied.
Lev 26:27-33 If you will not listen to Me for this, and shall walk contrary to Me, then I also will walk contrary to you in fury. I also will chastise you, I also, seven times for your sins. And you shall eat of the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat of the flesh of your daughters. And I shall destroy your high places and cut down your altars, and shall put your dead bodies on the carcasses of your idols. And My soul shall loathe you. And I shall make your cities a waste, and shall make your sanctuaries desolate; and I shall not smell your sweet fragrances. And I shall make the land desolate, and your enemies who are living in it shall be astonished at it. And I will scatter you among nations, and shall draw out the sword after you, and your land shall become a waste, and your cities shall be a desolation.
There were grave consequences to pay for breaking such a solemn covenant. The last of those consequences was that Israel would be cast out of the land.
Lev 18:28-29 Do not do these lest the land vomit you out for your defiling it, as it has vomited out the nation that was before you. For anyone who does any of these disgusting things, even the persons who are doing them, shall be cut off from the midst of their people.
Eze 22:14-15 Can your heart stand, or can your hands be strong, in the days that I shall work with you? I, Yahweh, have spoken, and I will work. And I will scatter you among the nations and sow you in the lands. And I will destroy your uncleanness out of you.
Eze 22:26 Her priests have violated My Law and have profaned My holy things. They have not divided between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and clean they have not taught. And they have hidden their eyes from the Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Eze 22:30-31 And I sought among them a man to wall up a wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. So I have poured out on them My disgust. With the fire of My wrath I consumed them. I have given their way on their heads, states the Almighty Yahweh.
So, because of the blatant breaking of Yahweh’s covenant, Israel suffered the plagues of Leviticus 26 and then, finally, they were cast out of the land into Diaspora.
2nd Ki 17:1 In the twelfth year of Ahaz the king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah reigned in Samaria, nine years over Israel.
2nd Ki 17:2 And he did the evil in the eyes of Yahweh, only not as the kings of Israel who were before him.
2nd Ki 17:3 Shalmaneser the king of Assyria came against him, and Hoshea was a servant to him, and paid him tribute.
2nd Ki 17:4 And the king of Assyria found a conspiracy in Hoshea, in that he had sent messengers to So the king of Egypt, and had not offered tribute up to the king of Assyria, as year by year. And the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in a prison.
2nd Ki 17:5 And the king of Assyria went up into all the land, and he went up to Samaria and besieged it three years.
2nd Ki 17:6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and removed Israel to Assyria, and made them live in Halah, and in Habor, by the river Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
2nd Ki 17:7 And it was so because the sons of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their Elohim, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and feared other gods,
2nd Ki 17:8 and walked in the statutes of the nations that Yahweh had dispossessed from the face of the sons of Israel, and of the kings of Israel that they made.
2nd Ki 17:9 And the sons of Israel secretly did the things which were not right against Yahweh their Elohim, and built high places for themselves in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city,
2nd Ki 17:10 and set up for themselves pillars and Asherahs on every high hill, and under every green tree;
2nd Ki 17:11 and burned incense there in all high places, like the nations that Yahweh had removed from their face; and did evil things to provoke Yahweh,
2nd Ki 17:12 and served the idols, of which Yahweh had said to them, You shall not do this thing.
2nd Ki 17:13 And Yahweh testified against Israel, and against Judah, by the hand of all His prophets, and every seer, saying, Turn back from your evil ways, and keep My commands, My statutes, according to all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by the hand of My servants the prophets.
2nd Ki 17:14 And they did not listen, and hardened their necks, like the necks of their fathers, who did not remain faithful to Yahweh their Elohim.
2nd Ki 17:15 And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies that He testified against them, and went after the vain thing, and became vain, and after the nations that were around them, of whom Yahweh had commanded them not to do like them.
2nd Ki 17:16 And they left all the commands of Yahweh their Elohim and made for themselves casted images, two calves, and made an Asherah, and bowed to all the host of the heavens, and served Baal,
2nd Ki 17:17 and caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire and divined, and used incantations, and sold themselves to do the evil in the eyes of Yahweh, to provoke Him,
2nd Ki 17:18 so that Yahweh was very angry against Israel, and turned them away from His face; not one was left, only the tribe of Judah by itself.
2nd Ki 17:19 Also Judah did not keep the commands of Yahweh their Elohim, and they walked in the statutes of Israel that they had made.
2nd Ki 17:20 And Yahweh rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and gave them into the hand of the plunderers, until He had cast them out from His presence.
2nd Ki 17:21 For He tore Israel from the house of David, and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king; and Jeroboam lured Israel from following Yahweh, and caused them to sin a great sin.
2nd Ki 17:22 And the sons of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam that he did; they did not turn aside from them;
2nd Ki 17:23 until Yahweh turned away Israel from His face, as He spoke by the hand of all His servants the prophets; and Israel was exiled from off its land to Assyria to this day.
2nd Ki 17:24 And the king of Assyria brought men in from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and made them live in the cities of Samaria instead of the sons of Israel; and they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities.
This is a stark lesson to learn today for all those out there calling themselves Christians, who have falsely believed that disobedience to our Father’s Torah somehow brings blessings. Scripture is very clear that Yahweh does NOT change, and neither does his Law! All these examples are for our learning, so that we do not make the same mistakes as our forefathers.
This invasion by Assyria took place in 723-722 BC, by King Shalmaneser and his general Sargon. It is interesting to note that after the 10 northern tribes of Israel, headed by the main tribe of Ephraim, were taken into captivity, the southern Kingdom of Judah remained. Judah was not taken into captivity until the years 605 BC – 572 BC. So for some 120-odd years, only the kingdom of Judah remained in the land of Israel. We see that in the land of Ephraim, called Samaria, King Shalmaneser brought new Assyrian people to live there who were later called Samaritans. Although these people accepted some Israelite customs, they were NOT Israelites! Also, when Judah came back to the land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon in 539 BC, only Judah or the Jews came back to the land. Ephraim or the Northern tribes of Israel did NOT return with Judah. Only the Jews went into captivity in Babylon, so only the Jews or Judah could come out of captivity. Since that time, most have wrongly assumed that Ephraim had disappeared, and that is why today, almost 2,000 years later, the world has wrongly assumed that Israel only consists of one tribe – JUDAH!
Let us now roll back the annals of history and see where the Northern tribes of Israel, called Ephraim in Scripture, from the house of Joseph, went.