I want to know more about Messianic Judaism

[Henaynei]

So the question comes up - how do you tell a Gentile who identifies with Israel as spoken of in Romans 11 that they are not allowed to participate in Shabbat, can and should eat unclean meat, should find a nice church, celebrate Christmas and Easter - and leave the "Jewish things" to us Jews. Isn't that building back up the "wall of hostility" we are trying to break down. Isn't it like saying, "You can have our Messiah, but you can't be a part of our worship and customs?

Yes and no.
I am a Messianic Gentile. I keep Shabbat as best I can, I keep p'sh^t Kosher, I celebrate the Feasts and Festivals. When there is a Jewish woman present she lights the candles and says the b'rakhot, I do only when no Jewish woman is present. I cover my hair, I'm married to a Jewish man.

But, I'm NOT Jewish. I and the Messianic Jews I know are all part of the Body of Messiah, no part of which is more important than the other before HaShem. The hand can not say to the eye "I have no need of you," neither can it say "I am an eye too!"

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}

 

[Henaynei]

I believe I am referring to Gal 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I am not arguing doctrine. That is not my place when not debating and that is not why I am here. God bless and Shalom.

Ahh... OK
NP
Yes, I'd say all in this movement accept that as scripture. However, some seem to believe the "neither Jew nor Greek" means such that if applied to "neither male nor female" it would render us all genderless.

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}

 

[Chaplain David]

Yes and no.
I am a Messianic Gentile. I keep Shabbat as best I can, I keep p'sh^t Kosher, I celebrate the Feasts and Festivals. When there is a Jewish woman present she lights the candles and says the b'rakhot, I do only when no Jewish woman is present. I cover my hair, I'm married to a Jewish man.

But, I'm NOT Jewish. I and the Messianic Jews I know are all part of the Body of Messiah, no part of which is more important than the other before HaShem. The hand can not say to the eye "I have no need of you," neither can it say "I am an eye too!"

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}

Hello Henaynei, I hope you don't mind this question as it is a little personal. In other Christian denominations, even among the protestants, there is sometimes strife between husband and wife because of their respective churches having differing doctrine. Do you and your husband have any problem with that --- he being Jewish and you being MJ? If so, how do you resolve any conflict that might occur.

If you feel the question is too personal and would like to answer it, my pm box is always open. Shalom.

 

[Chaplain David]

So the question comes up - how do you tell a Gentile who identifies with Israel as spoken of in Romans 11 that they are not allowed to participate in Shabbat, can and should eat unclean meat, should find a nice church, celebrate Christmas and Easter - and leave the "Jewish things" to us Jews. Isn't that building back up the "wall of hostility" we are trying to break down. Isn't it like saying, "You can have our Messiah, but you can't be a part of our worship and customs?

Are other MJ's here or elsewhere telling MJ's that? I understand how Orthodox Jews could if they desired and the doctrine behind it.

 

[mishkan]

Are other MJ's here or elsewhere telling MJ's that? I understand how Orthodox Jews could if they desired and the doctrine behind it.

Upon stating my goal of congregational leadership within the MJ community, I was explicitly told by my Jewish congregational leader on multiple occasions that I should, "Go pastor a nice church somewhere, and teach them the Jewish backgrounds of their faith."

My support of talent and $$$ is welcome, as long as I don't get too uppity, and think I have a shot at being part of the leadership.

It must have really galled that fellow that our entire elder board at that synagogue was composed of Gentiles.

 

[Chaplain David]

I've been asking that question for a couple months now. Sister Qnts2 has always provided me with it and she has my gratitude.

As I understand it we are talking about two different religions. One is Judaism and the other is the branch of Christianity called MJ.

With all due respect to the Jews, they do not have to let us in unless we comply with their doctrine and beliefs, yes?

On the other hand it appears that MJ is a more diverse group embracing various Jewish beliefs from a kind of a Jewish smorgansbord, and with the large difference and key difference if I might say so of accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

 

[ChavaK]

My support of talent and $$$ is welcome, as long as I don't get too uppity, and think I have a shot at being part of the leadership.

No offense meant, but I have always wondered if that is why Jews in
the Messianic movement "tolerate" Gentiles...the majority of the movement
(from what I have seen) is Gentile and needed for monetary and other forms of support.

It must have really galled that fellow that our entire elder board at that synagogue was composed of Gentiles.

Is that really so unusual?

 

[mishkan]

As I understand it we are talking about two different religions. One is Judaism and the other is the branch of Christianity called MJ.

That is historically how things started out. We've seen numerous links in the past week, documenting how Hebrew-Christianity began as a Christian missionary movement in the past couple hundred years. Almost all modern Messianic organizations and congregations have their roots in good, old-fashioned Christian missions.

However, I am of the opinion that this is not the end of the story. I take the view that MJ must necessarily grow and mature, taking what is best from each of its parents, and incorporating them into a unified expression that will resemble the original Judaism more than modern Christianity.

With all due respect to the Jews, they do not have to let us in unless we comply with their doctrine and beliefs, yes?

That's exactly the point I believe to be under discussion. It isn't as though all of Judaism is unified on anything. That's why there are Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform Judaisms, Not to mention Reconstructionist, Humanist, Secular, etc. forms of Judaism. MJ is just one more group joining in the mix.

On the other hand it appears that MJ is a more diverse group embracing various Jewish beliefs from a kind of a Jewish smorgansbord, and with the large difference and key difference if I might say so of accepting Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

This has been precisely my view of MJ for decades--a Judaism, with the understanding of Yeshua as Messiah.

 

[anisavta]

Are other MJ's here or elsewhere telling MJ's that? I understand how Orthodox Jews could if they desired and the doctrine behind it.

Yes here on this forum there is one particular poster and a few who follow along that want all Gentiles to stay in their respective place as Christian Gentiles even if they fly the MJ banner. It's sad.

 

[anisavta]

As I understand it we are talking about two different religions. One is Judaism and the other is the branch of Christianity called MJ.

That's were the problem lies IMO. MJ is stuffed into a branch of Christianity by those who don't understand it. There are Messianic synagogues where the only way you can tell they are Messianic is they encorperate Yeshua in their litergy. They function within the framework of Judaism. Messianic Judaism in it's purist form does not follow the Christian calendar, Christian holidays, Christian liturgy etc.

 

[Yahudim]

I share Mishkan's perspective and opinion concerning the Messianic movement and faith. But take a moment to apply the reality of today's environment to this faith group discussion forum, 'Messianic Judaism'. What started as a Christian outreach to the Jews has evolved far beyond this narrow definition. Proponents and opponents of this movement from both within and without the Messianic community creates a strong dynamic that makes civil discourse difficult at times.

It is because of our diversity and acceptance of one another here at CF, that we so resent the interlopers joining the forum with the sole purpose of pushing a 'grace only', thinly veiled anti-Torah message OR tagging us with labels that are inappropriate and making demands that we either conform to their notions of what is right or to their system of labels.

David, there are people that are allowed into this forum with an anti-Torah or anti-Gentile message with hardly any repercussions. There are doctrinal Christians that 'suddenly' claim Jewish ancestry in order to fly a Messianic icon; again to push an agenda that is contrary to the majority of this faith group's membership. And there are Christian opponents to Hebraic context that have refined the art of putting statements of doctrine in question form, so as not to run foul of the rules, just the spirit of them. I find it both ironic and tragic, that this is the ONLY forum on CF where certain people can come to debate and teach doctrine contrary to the majority membership of this faith group.

Understand please, that we cannot discuss much in depth without being confronted with these disruptions. Start a thread concerning Passover and it is turned into a 'Grace vs. Torah' debate or a 'Gentile Seperationist' theme. Want to talk about the central role of Israel in prophecy? We end up in a 'Grace vs. Torah' slugfest. How about Acts !5 and the so called Noachide laws? You guessed it. Another 'Gentile Seperationist' disaster or other similar disruption.

I presume that at sometime in your life, you may have hit your thumb with a hammer. For the next couple of weeks, there is nothing that you can do to keep from re-injuring your thumb. It is both painful and slow to heal. In this forum, most of us are hyper-aware of what is going on. And just like the injured thumb, there is no way that we can avoid being interrupted, contradicted, diverted, undermined and occasionally overwhelmed with resentment - and pain. This gets even more frustrating when the very people that we rely on for protection from interlopers are in agreement (at least doctrinally) with our antagonists. The perception is that the pendulum does not often swing our way.

This post probably doesn't help you understand Messianic Judaism to any greater degree. But it may help you understand the dynamic that makes questions addressed to this faith group's members hardly every qualify as easy or 'asked and answered'. I am very grateful for your respectful attention here. It seems as refreshing as an ice pack on a swollen thumb.

 

[Qnts2]

So the question comes up - how do you tell a Gentile who identifies with Israel as spoken of in Romans 11 that they are not allowed to participate in Shabbat, can and should eat unclean meat, should find a nice church, celebrate Christmas and Easter - and leave the "Jewish things" to us Jews. Isn't that building back up the "wall of hostility" we are trying to break down. Isn't it like saying, "You can have our Messiah, but you can't be a part of our worship and customs?

I tell a Gentile, you shouldn't identify with Israel, you should identify with Yeshua the Messiah.

No one is telling you not to participate in Shabbat or to eat unclean meat. But, it is wrong for you to tell others that they have to participate in Shabbat and eat only clean meat.

No Messianic Jew would tell you to celebrate Christmas or Easter. Messianic Jews see Christmas as a Gentile tradition to honor Yeshua. It is a tradition and not required. As far as Easter, many Messianic Jews go into churches to present Passover hoping to help Gentile believers to learn. But, when a person criticizes Christians, saying that they are pagan for celebrating Christmas, that is wrong. Christmas is a tradition just like Channukah, or Tu B'shevat. Nothing wrong with traditions as long as they don't violate scripture.

As far as leaving Jewish things to Jews, I am assuming you mean cultural Jewish things. There is some truth to that. You don't have to act like a Jew to be a believer in Yeshua. I don't have to act like a Gentile to be a believer in Yeshua. The body of Messiah is made up of people from all different languages, cultures, etc. People from diverse groups don't have to act Jewish. I don't have to act Native American, but I can enjoy their music and culture. If I do try to act Native American, it falls short as I am only imitating them the way I think I see what Native Americans say, do, and act . ( I use Native American because my spouses side has some Native Americans. I have gone to Native American believers pow wows. Very different then Jewish cultural worship of Yeshua, and very beautiful. I really enjoyed it, even though I am not Native American. Some of us actually had a joint worship service, Jewish and Native American. It was great. The shofar was blown with tom toms being played alongside).

 

[Gxg (G²)]

I am a Messianic Gentile. I keep Shabbat as best I can, I keep p'sh^t Kosher, I celebrate the Feasts and Festivals. When there is a Jewish woman present she lights the candles and says the b'rakhot, I do only when no Jewish woman is present. I cover my hair, I'm married to a Jewish man.

But, I'm NOT Jewish. I and the Messianic Jews I know are all part of the Body of Messiah, no part of which is more important than the other before HaShem. The hand can not say to the eye "I have no need of you," neither can it say "I am an eye too!"

Very beautiful to see in action, as it concerns the spirit of graciousness you seek to walk in and understanding of your calling/ministry

 

[Henaynei]

Hello Henaynei, I hope you don't mind this question as it is a little personal. In other Christian denominations, even among the protestants, there is sometimes strife between husband and wife because of their respective churches having differing doctrine. Do you and your husband have any problem with that --- he being Jewish and you being MJ? If so, how do you resolve any conflict that might occur.

If you feel the question is too personal and would like to answer it, my pm box is always open. Shalom.

LOL Strife?? And how! You should have seen how reluctant DH was when I finally drug him to a Messianic Jewish congregation! LOL



Some 20+ years later he now teaches me things I don't know about Judaism and MJism, and I teach him things I don't know about Judaism and MJism, and we constantly learn new things together as we do beit midrash together. Then he teaches his students, in this small Gentile community in which we live, and writes books about the Jewish Foundations of Christianity We don't make a living at it, but it is the calling He has placed on us, our ministry, HaMahkor, Blessed be His Name.
We deeply miss both Messianic and Jewish community, but we love this area and the people of this area and He has given us a job to do.

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}

 

[Yahudim]

That's right Gentiles. You should identify with Yeshua the Messiah of Israel and the promised Davidic King of Israel who will rule all the world from Israel in fulfillment of prophecy about Israel. You should obey Torah as it applies to you in your circumstance because He is the Word and the Word is Torah. I still don't see how you can separate the two.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

Within MJ or without, Jews are those born of a Jewish mother and circumcised, or if born if a Jewish father was both circumcised and raised Jewish.

In a gathering it is generally impolite to ask someone of they are Jewish. It is usually so that most Gentiles know many more Jews than they think they do because Jews generally don't go around advertising it nor does the clothing of most Jews visibly separate them.

However, political correctness aside, sometimes people will ask

Unfortunately, there are some Gentiles in MJ that call themselves Jews. They feel they have scripture or their own interpretation of scripture to back them up. This is most upsetting to most non-Jewish MJs and more so to both MJ and non-MJ Jews.

Interesting you should note that, as it seems that many fellowships have it where others of Jewish background are more than comfortable--and proud--going about letting others know of their Jewish heritage, in the same way that others in X-Men would be proud alerting others to the fact that were a mutant/proud of it. They may exercise wisdom in certain places when it comes to feeling like they're outnumbered and don't wish to be harrassed with false understandings (and outright anti-semitism), although there are others who really don't care what folks think.....to the point that they go to places ready to fight/get in someone's face if their Jewish background is belittled at any point.

As it concerns Gentiles who call themselves "Jews", indeed this happens too much in many places. Sadly, it often seems to happen whenever Gentiles may not even claim to be "Jewish" outrightly and yet demand to be treated Jewishly because of their being in a Messianic fellowship...in the same way someone may say they're not really concerned with being scientists when within a group that is dedicated to studying Physics and yet gets upset when they say they're not treated as fellow Physcists. One cannot claim that Gentiles and Jews are not the same, yet out of the same mouth claim Gentiles were to live as the Jews and reference scriptures on "One Law for all" (often out of context) as a basis for saying that Jew and Gentiles were always called to follow the same laws. For there was always distinction as it concerns the groups...and diversity is what the Lord was always focused upon.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

the Gentile Church is part of the Body of Messiah. As such they:
Are equal in standing before the Throne and as pertains to Salvation as are the Jews. In THIS WAY there is "neither Jew nor Greek."
The Gentile Church has One Covenant of Promise, not Covenants.

Amen

 

[etZion]

I tell a Gentile, you shouldn't identify with Israel, you should identify with Yeshua the Messiah.

No one is telling you not to participate in Shabbat or to eat unclean meat. But, it is wrong for you to tell others that they have to participate in Shabbat and eat only clean meat.

No Messianic Jew would tell you to celebrate Christmas or Easter. Messianic Jews see Christmas as a Gentile tradition to honor Yeshua. It is a tradition and not required. As far as Easter, many Messianic Jews go into churches to present Passover hoping to help Gentile believers to learn. But, when a person criticizes Christians, saying that they are pagan for celebrating Christmas, that is wrong. Christmas is a tradition just like Channukah, or Tu B'shevat. Nothing wrong with traditions as long as they don't violate scripture.

As far as leaving Jewish things to Jews, I am assuming you mean cultural Jewish things. There is some truth to that. You don't have to act like a Jew to be a believer in Yeshua. I don't have to act like a Gentile to be a believer in Yeshua. The body of Messiah is made up of people from all different languages, cultures, etc. People from diverse groups don't have to act Jewish. I don't have to act Native American, but I can enjoy their music and culture. If I do try to act Native American, it falls short as I am only imitating them the way I think I see what Native Americans say, do, and act . ( I use Native American because my spouses side has some Native Americans. I have gone to Native American believers pow wows. Very different then Jewish cultural worship of Yeshua, and very beautiful. I really enjoyed it, even though I am not Native American. Some of us actually had a joint worship service, Jewish and Native American. It was great. The shofar was blown with tom toms being played alongside).

Don't identity with Israel, just identify with the King of Israel, does that make sense to anyone else? Separate the King from Israel and you have Jesus.

Don't mimic Yeshua, just be imitators as the scripture says, or whatever that might look like, just don't look Jewish, even though Yeshua was Jewish, just create a new religion called Christianity, and everything will be just fine...

This is a summation of what I just read.

 

[anisavta]

I tell a Gentile, you shouldn't identify with Israel, you should identify with Yeshua the Messiah.

Which one? The Jesus who eats a pulled pork sandwich in the church fellowship hall, celebrates His resurrection up to a month early or later than Passover and shares it with a goddess of fertility, shops at Walmart on Saturday after half a day of extra time at the office? Or the One who honors Shabbat, refuses to eat unclean things, keeps the feasts of HaShem... You encourage Gentiles to ignore the deep ache in their hearts when their Israeli brothers and sisters panic when their school age kids at school have to make it to the bomb shelter in seconds? You present "Christ in the Passover" schpiels at churches to show them that Jesus was a Jew but discourage them from identifying with this Jewish Jesus, and instead encourage them to embrace Christianity? How confusing and demeaning to Gentiles IMO.

 

[Gxg (G²)]

tell a Gentile, you shouldn't identify with Israel, you should identify with Yeshua the Messiah.

.....You don't have to act like a Jew to be a believer in Yeshua. I don't have to act like a Gentile to be a believer in Yeshua. The body of Messiah is made up of people from all different languages, cultures, etc. People from diverse groups don't have to act Jewish. I don't have to act Native American, but I can enjoy their music and culture. If I do try to act Native American, it falls short as I am only imitating them the way I think I see what Native Americans say, do, and act . ( I use Native American because my spouses side has some Native Americans. I have gone to Native American believers pow wows. Very different then Jewish cultural worship of Yeshua, and very beautiful. I really enjoyed it, even though I am not Native American. Some of us actually had a joint worship service, Jewish and Native American. It was great. The shofar was blown with tom toms being played alongside).

Seeing how Yeshua was not just King over Israel--but literally King of the ENTIRE WORLD and the Nations (long before anything of Israel even came up), it can indeed be interesting whenever there can be discussion that seems akin to false scenarios that say not identifying with Israel must mean you don't identify with Yeshua.


He identified with the Samaritan people (i.e. woman at the well in John 4, Luke 9, etc), the demoniac who was healed in Gentile territory in Mark 5 and many other places. Apart from that, scripture was very explicit about the ways that the Lord chose to work in other nations OUTSIDE of Israel just as He did with others within Israel.

From Dr.Arnold of Ariel Ministries...

Eight provisions can be gleaned from this passage. First: Moses spoke prophetically of Israel's coming disobedience to the Mosaic Law and her subsequent scattering over all the world (29:2-30:1). All remaining provisions speak of various facets of Israel's final restoration. Second: Israel will repent (30:2). Third: the Messiah will return (v. 3a). Fourth: Israel will be regathered (vv. 3b-4). Fifth: Israel will possess the Promised Land (v. 5). Sixth: Israel will be regenerated (v. 6). Seventh: the enemies of Israel will be judged (v. 7). Eighth: Israel will receive full blessing; specifically, the blessings of the Messianic Age (vv. 8-20).
​

​

I agree with Dr.Arnold when it comes to his noting that the land promise isn't about borders..and has ALWAYS been much larger than that.

The subject of the land promise was about being much bigger than borders---just as Jerusalem isn't just about bricks, but rather establishing a location to spread righteousness in the entire world. And the only thing that'll ultimately make a difference is the Messiah, whom both Jew and Gentiles look to for salvation and who ensures that that the real promise land comes about...for ALL of God's children to live in/inherit. But as Hebrews 4 notes, it is the Lord who is the true Sabbath/promise land since that is what it always pointed to.


Dr. F actually sought to address the issue more in-depth in one of his articles I greatly appreciated, concerning the Modern Israeli State, the battles they've had over the "rights to the land" and how many have often had sharp issue whenever others justifiy force via violence to take back "what's theirs" and yet allow so much injustice which the Lord said disqualified others from being his people worthy of it. He also sought to deal with the fact that God's people/those deemed "Israel" have always be destined to be different from those who are either Ethnic Hebrews or Israelis--and showing how all were meant to turn to him. Where he dealt with it can be found if going online/looking up an article under the name of "The Modern State of Israel in Bible Prophecy - Ariel Ministries" ( http://www.arielm.org/dcs/pdf/mbs189m.pdf )

But in line with the redeemption of the Land as the scriptures note (as mentioned earlier), Something that has always tripped me out is considering what the Lord did with Hagar the Egyptian ( Genesis 16:1-3, Genesis 21:8-10 , Genesis 25:11-13, etc )---and Egypt, by connection. For as the Lord proclaimed over Egypt by the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 19:19-23
​

​

19 In that day there will be an altar to the LORD in the heart of Egypt, and a monument to the LORD at its border. 20 It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. 21 So the LORD will make himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD. They will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings; they will make vows to the LORD and keep them. 22 The LORD will strike Egypt with a plague; he will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them.

23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. The Assyrians will go to Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship together. 24 In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. 25 The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance.”

​

Egypt was deemed to be amongst the people of the Lord alongside Israel--and Egypt called the Lord's people, a group that'd worship the Lord and be just as blessed as Israel was. With regards to "highway," compare the references to the highway to Jerusalem in Isaiah 11:16 and Isaiah 35:8-10. Isaiah 57:14 nd Isaiah 62:10 also describe the removal of obstacles and the construction of a highway to Jerusalem. The Egyptians and the Assyrians (often noted as enemies of Israel, even though Egypt was often used to save God's people) had been loggerheads for years (Isaiah 20:4), but in the future they would be linked in a bond of fellowship sealed by their common allegiance to Israel's Lord (Isaiah 25:3). And with the altar in Egupt, some scholars relate "altar" to the temple built in Egypt by the Jewish high priest Onias IV, who fled to Egpt during the second century B.C. But more appears to have been at stake in Isaiah 19:19. Indeed, the reference appears to be to a conversion to the Lord of a significant number of Egyptians.

The Lord made plain in His Word that the Egyptians would be a people whom He'd use mightly for His glory. With Egypt, the Lord expressed its entire admission to religious privileges (Ro 9:24-26; 1Pe 2:9-10, etc). When it came to His working with the Hebrews in the conquest of Cannan, it has always been interesting to consider how the intended recipients of salvation were not only Jews, but also Israel’s most hostile enemies! Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, and Philistia are included (Psalm 87:4-6; Isaiah 19:23-5). Even the Canaanites whom Israel fought against were incorporated into the new Israel, the true people of God (Zechariah 9:6 [the “Jebusite,” who has been assimilated into Israel]; cp. Matthew 15:22). ..


Even prior to all of that, the children of Israel were blessed through the land of Egypt when it came to what the Lord did through Joseph----who married an Egyptian woman, shaved his beard, had mixed children who were both Hebrew/Egyptian and adopted by Jacob, and had an Egyptian name (Genesis 41-42). As seen in Genesis 46–50, he brothers returned to Palestine and brought their father to Egypt In Israel's meeting meeting with the Pharaoh, Jacob pronounce a blessing on the Pharaoh (47:7–12)....and honored him. And in the death of Jacob (Genesis 49-50), all of Egypt (including Pharoah) came to mourn his loss and gave him the treatment of embalming (per the requests of Joseph) that was reserved for royalty. There were signs of relationship and interaction between Israel/other groups...


Moreover, the Lord noted to Israel how they were not to despise the Egyptians...and that they'd be welcome to come into the assembly of the Lord ( Deuteronomy 23:6-8 ). As the Messiah also recieved salvation in Egypt when Joseph and Mary fled there for protection in Matthew 2, it is highly interesting to consider the many ways the Lord has always used that group for his work...and if considering what it means to be apart of "Covenant", it is intriguing to consider how many may often say that only Israel had true covenant when the Lord already made promises of relationship with people groups OUTSIDE of Israel....and yet all would enjoy blessings within the land of Israel as well.

And none of it required for the nations to BECOME Israel or be identified with Israel in order to be considered blessed.