Ownership

The expression "Jack of all trades, master of none" is a familiar one. This saying, with all due respect, fits YHVH,’s ‘professions’, although He is undoubtedly not only a “Jack of all trades” but also a Master of them all. Many people today are dabbling in real estate to earn a little extra money on the side.  Well, wouldn't you know it, YHVH is into that business also! He is first seen creating the property that He will own, and then taking possession of it. Psalm 24:1 states: "The earth is YHVH's, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.”  In Psalm 89:11, we read: "The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; The world and all its fullness, You have founded them”.  In 1Corinthians 10:26 it is written: "The earth is YHVH's and all its fullness."

In these scriptures it is evident that YHVH has never lost the title deed of ownership of the earth to any devil. However, we do see Him dividing it up and giving it to men. "Then Elohim said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’" (Gen.1:26).

According to these scriptures, "Adam" (both male and female), had an equal role in overseeing, ruling, or subduing all living things. Subduing does not mean exploiting, but actually just the opposite - imparting life and light to the living creatures.  However, nothing was said about property rights until after the nations (goyim) where divided. We read in Genesis 10:32:  "These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after the flood." Genesis 10:25 says: "To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided." And, "When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel" (Deuteronomy 32:8).   Now why would the Creator do that?  Israel was not even around at the time of Peleg (or was it?).  Peleg was the son of Eber, whose name is carried by the Israelites – Hebrews - and is one of the forefathers of Abram (a firstborn).

Right from the start Elohim began to put in order the true intent of His plan, which is seen later in the covenant that He made with Abraham the father of Israel. "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land [eretz] which you see I will give to you and your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth [eretz]; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. Arise, walk on the land [eretz] through its length and its width, for I give it to you" (Gen.13:14-17). Ownership was granted to those who were chosen by YHVH (and who complied with His Word), as well as by being present and willing to redeem the land.

Abram was living somewhere between Ai and Bethel when YHVH spoke those words to him.  I would like to take the liberty to expand the meaning of this blessing based on its context. "Arise walk in the earth through its length and its breath and I will give it to you." The Hebrew word "eretz" can be translated earth, land, field, or ground.  It is legitimate for a translator to use any of these English words at their discretion according to the context.  My understanding of the context, in light of the massive blessing of multiplicity, is that the seed would be as the dust of the earth (“eretz”), and dust, as we know, usually covers everything. I believe that the Holy One did not limit this blessing to Abraham only and to a specific land (Canaan), but also to his seed and to the entire earth.  YHVH’s intent was to sow the seed into all the earth (“eretz”), thus continuing the blessing that He made with Adam and with Noah, "to fill the earth and rule over [or subdue] it."

Later on in the life of Abraham we hear YHVH saying that his seed would be like the stars of heaven (ref. Gen.15:5). Again, He is talking in terms of numbers, but here also of position, as the stars were put there to rule the night, along with the moon, and to be for signs and for seasons (stars can be seen in the night skies from any one point on the face of the earth). 

 Abraham was also told that he would be a nation (“goy”), in the form of his own multiplied seed, and that this goy would be a goy made up of kings and priests.  “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel…” (Exodus 19:6).  "YHVH will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath” (Deut. 8:13). The irrevocable destiny of the life of the forefathers was to have dominion and to subdue and rule this planet earth.

 

The Patriarchs are very much alive today in their progeny, whether their children know it or not. For did not YHVH say that He is the "Elohim of Abraham, Isaac an Jacob, the Elohim of the living" (Matt. 22:32)? This is why we need to have our eyes open to present truth, or reality.

YHVH is a covenant-keeping Elohim, and in this generation we are the witnesses to that faithfulness, loving-kindness and mercy. This fact finds expression not just by what we say, but more so by whom we are. Worshiping in spirit and in truth is being who God has created us to be, and recognizing ourselves to be a manifestation of an incredible living truth - "the work of YHVH."   “But when he [Jacob] sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, they will worship by hallowing My name, hallowing the Holy One of Jacob, and fearing the Elohim of Israel”.  We are His living stones, hewn from the rock, which is made up of "Abraham [our] father and [of] Sarah who gave birth to [us] in pain" (Isa. 51:2).  "For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.  The counsel of YHVH stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations… Blessed is the nation whose Elohim is YHVH, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" (Ps. 33:9,11-12 8).  "Because YHVH loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, YHVH has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of [spiritual] bondage” (Deut.7:8).  Why did He do that? That we might be filled with His Spirit, and be that channel of His life and light to the creation. What good is a star if it has no light?

We, in this generation of the seed of Abraham, are incredibly blessed to not only have Yeshua as our Messiah, but to be a witness to the restoration of the nation that will be His light to all the nations and to the earth.  Biblical prophecy is being fulfilled right before our very eyes, as the Spirit of Elohim is restoring the second stick or nation of “Joseph in the Hand of Ephraim” spoken of in Ezekiel thirty-seven.

"Look among the nations and watch -- Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you” (Hab.1:5).  Not many believed that the first stick (Judah) could be gathered by YHVH and restored as a national entity on this earth.  But now that it has, the nations far and wide are taken aback. Judah/Israel is like a thorn in their side. But while they are still deliberating on how to solve this one dilemma, there is still another nation to be gathered; and this one is even more difficult to come to terms with, as it has been hidden.  In Ezekiel thirty-seven YHVH says that these dry bones of the lost tribes are in their graves of non-recognition.  That means that they will only be seen when YHVH raises them up through resurrection power.  “Awake O Israel put off your slumber, and the truth will make you free…”

Nation of Ephraim, are you wakening up to your national identity?  Are you, as the first fruit/firstborn of the new creation, willing to be your brother’s keeper?  We can only be that to another nation if we ourselves are the resurrected/re-gathered brother/nation.  YHVH wants to make one nation out of the two, but first He wants two nations, two trees, in His hand.  

 Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers [two nations] to dwell [shevet Achim] together in unity…in this YHVH commands the blessing life eternal” (Ps. 133:1,3b)

Ephraim