Lost tribes of Israel

At the end of last week, America attacked Iranian nuclear facilities, including Fordo. So far, it appears that this attack has destroyed Iran's nuclear weapons program. Israel's “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons and build thousands of ballistic missiles was also very successful and paved the way for this American attack. However, the costs were high: Israel targeted military targets, but Iran sent ballistic missiles and drones to civilian areas, hitting residential buildings, hospitals, synagogues, and even mosques. Then US President Trump suddenly announced a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran.


G-d of Israel, we praise You that today we can see how You are fulfilling Jeremiah 49:35-38

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might. And upon Elam will I bring the four winds from the four quarters of heaven, and will scatter them toward all those winds; and there shall be no nation whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come. For I will cause Elam to be dismayed before their enemies, and before them that seek their life: and I will bring evil upon them, even my fierce anger, saith the Lord; and I will send the sword after them, till I have consumed them: And I will set my throne in Elam, and will destroy from thence the king and the princes, saith the Lord. Jer 49:35-38

Please, Lord G-d, fulfill Jeremiah 49:38 completely by continuing to build Your throne, that is, Your body, in Iran and destroying the current regime in Iran

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isa 55:11

Abba, we thank You for removing the immediate threat of an Iranian Shiite nuclear bomb that hung over the heads of Your people whom You are bringing back to Your land

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. Ps 124:7-8

The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, Nah 1:5a

Lord of Hosts, give Israel divine strategies and tactics to remove the threat of Iran's remaining ballistic missiles or its nuclear program, if indeed either of these remains a threat

Blessed be the Lord my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: Ps 144:1

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord. Prov 21:30-31

Lord G-d, bring a spirit of paranoia upon all remaining Iranian leaders so that they “see” Mossad agents everywhere around them and end up unable to trust one another

Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof. In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men, Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, Shall mortal man be more just than G-d? shall a man be more pure than his maker? Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly: How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth? They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it. Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom. Job 4:12-21

Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction. Jer 17:18

Abba, create massive division within the Iranian government so that it falls

If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. Lk 11:18

Thank you for appointing Bibi Netanyahu as Israeli Prime Minister and Trump as US President at precisely this time,

and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Est 4:14b

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Dan 2:21

and that both men have publicly thanked You for helping them protect their nations from Iran's plans to “destroy America” and “destroy Israel”

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. Job 5:12

That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. Ps 26:7

But Lord, Trump's goal of being known as a “man of peace” often distorts his thinking, causing him to say and do things that put Israel in a dangerous position. Therefore, surround him with a protective wall and let his advisors warn him against treating Israel like any other nation

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. Ex 33:16

the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. Num 23:9b

Also, Abba, give Bibi the strength to be stubborn enough to reject anything that does not come from You

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy G-d is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Josh 1:9

G-d, if the “ceasefire” that Trump wants to force on Israel and Iran comes from You, great, but if it does not come from You, then let Iran openly and repeatedly violate it

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: Ps 55:12

As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly. Prov 26:11

Lord G-d, may You have the final say on when Israel's war against Iran ends

Be still, and know that I am G-d: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Ps 46:10

King Jesus, guide the Iranian congregation as they intercede for their country today

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all g-dliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of G-d our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Tim 2:1-4

Use the coordinated attack by Israel and America against Iran to sever all ties between Iran and Russia, China, and North Korea

For G-d shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. Eccl 12:14

G-d of Israel, strengthen Your angelic armies so that they may fight alongside the Israeli army and protect Your people from all enemies of Israel and Your enemies in the Middle East

Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our G-d to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chr 32:7-8

The Lord of hosts is with us; the G-d of Jacob is our refuge. Selah... The Lord of hosts is with us; the G-d of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. Ps 46:7 .11

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. Ps 55:18

There brake he the arrows of the bow, the shield, and the sword, and the battle. Selah. Thou art more glorious and excellent than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted are spoiled, they have slept their sleep: and none of the men of might have found their hands. At thy rebuke, O G-d of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep. 76:3-6

Arise, Lord, against the Houthis and send Your angel to fight against them

Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt. Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them. Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them. Ps 35:1-6

As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of G-d. Ps 68:2

Lord G-d, strengthen the recent attacks by the IDF against Hezbollah and Iranian agents in Lebanon, so that their activities are not only restricted but completely eliminated

Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. Ps 44:5

Through G-d we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. Ps 60:12

Messiah, we thank You that more and more Israelis and their leaders are viewing Qatar and Turkey as hostile nations that support both Hamas and Iran,

The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. Ps 55:21

They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. Ps 62:4

and we ask You to do the same for leaders in the West.

G-d, let the extreme pride of Islam bring all radical Muslim jihadists to ruin

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: Prov 11:2a

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. Prov 17:19

Merciful Savior, shame many Muslims so that they recognize that Allah is not more powerful than You, the G-d of Israel, and thereby move them to seek You

Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish: That men may know that thou, whose name alone is Jehovah, art the most high over all the earth. Ps 83:17-19

The head of an American aid fund breaks his silence: In an exclusive interview on Channel 12, an Israeli television station, he reports on targeted killings by Hamas, threats against his employees, and an aid system that has long since become a weapon.

Gaza is starving. Millions of people are living in ruins, without electricity, clean water, or security. But anyone who thinks that Israel's army is the biggest obstacle to aid is mistaken. According to American aid fund director Dr. Johnny Moore, an evangelical Christian and former PR consultant who advised President Donald Trump during his first term, the most cruel threat comes from another source: Hamas itself deliberately shoots civilians, attacks aid organizations, and controls the distribution of food like a mafia.

In a moving interview, Moore describes how his employees risk their lives every day, not in the crossfire, but under direct pressure from a terrorist organization that exploits the hunger of its own population for political gain.

“The situation is devastating and it is getting worse every day that Hamas retains control over aid,”

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says Moore. His organization currently delivers two to three million meals a day to the Gaza Strip. But those who help quickly become targets:

“Our local aid workers are threatened by Hamas, and some have been murdered. Not by Israeli attacks. Not by accidental explosions. Targeted killings.”

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Even more shocking: no international organization has publicly condemned these murders.

“To this day, no one from the UN system has said a word about it.”

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Moore is stunned by the humanitarian double standard: “Where is the outrage when aid workers are killed, just because they are helping?”

For years, Hamas has controlled humanitarian aid to Gaza. What is declared as aid often ends up in weapons depots or with loyal officials. Those in need stand in line, but not because there is too little aid, but because Hamas decides who is allowed to live.

“Almost all aid that ever came to Gaza was under Hamas control. That only exacerbated the suffering of the people,”

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explains Moore. His foundation tries to provide neutral and comprehensive assistance, but this is systematically sabotaged.

“The biggest threat to our work is not the military. It is the political terror of Hamas, combined with a global naivety that tolerates this mechanism.”

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In recent months, images from Gaza have repeatedly circulated, allegedly showing Israeli soldiers shooting at starving people. Moore clearly contradicts this:

“There have been incidents involving Israeli units, yes. But in many cases, these were targeted attacks by Hamas on its own population.”

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Why would an organization shoot at the people it claims to defend?

The answer is grim:

“Hamas understands the power of images. They kill deliberately to blame Israel or us, for the media, for the narrative, for their propaganda.”

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His assessment is not based on assumptions, but on his own sources:

“We have clear evidence that Hamas deliberately shot at waiting civilians in order to then spread the images. And it works. The world believes what it wants to see.”

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Another surprising fact is that, according to Moore, the aid campaign is being financed by two European countries, but both want to remain anonymous. They fear public pressure.

“They are afraid of being criticized for helping without supporting Hamas,”

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explains Moore. These countries have realized that aid in Gaza only makes sense if it is not controlled by Hamas.

Moore also has his difficulties with the international press. Many Western media outlets downplay or ignore the role of Hamas.

“We can hardly compete with Hamas' propaganda machine. They are loud, unscrupulous, and brutal, we are just helpers.”

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Moore's message is clear:

“Gaza is a deadly place, not only because of bombs, but because of those who pretend to be liberators.”

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Hamas abuses people's suffering. Those who ignore this are complicit.

Those who want to help must bypass Hamas, not appease it. And those who speak about the suffering in Gaza must be prepared to speak uncomfortable truths: that not every dead civilian is a victim of Israel. That propaganda costs lives. And that silence is the greatest betrayal.
S.: Channel 12

It is time! Time for the land to be repopulated. Time for all the tribes to come home and take possession of the Promised Land.

When the ten tribes separated from Judah after Solomon's death, they became officially known as the Ephraimites. The prophet Hosea alone refers to the ten tribes as Ephraim more than twenty times.

Ephraim shall be desolate in the day of rebuke: Hos 5:9a

For I will be unto Ephraim as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will take away, and none shall rescue him. Hos 5:14

Thus, Jacob's prophecy was fulfilled when the ten tribes became a confederation of nations under the control of Ephraim. After 250 years, they were captured and carried away by the Assyrians. Part of the tribe of Ephraim also fled to the tribe of Judah (including Benjamin and Levi) and joined the Jews.

The prophet Hosea says of Ephraim that

they shall be wanderers among the nations. Hos 9:17b

Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph,

which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. Gen 41:50b

Asenath came from a wealthy Egyptian family. Her father, Potipherah (“he whom Ra has given”), not to be confused with Potiphar, was a priest of On, a cult center for the sun g-d Re. Asenath was given to Joseph as a wife by Pharaoh after Joseph had foreseen a seven-year famine.

Later rabbinical tradition makes Asenath the daughter of Dinah and Shechem, who was merely adopted by Potipherah. This solves the exegetical problem that Joseph was married to a non-Jewish woman, even the daughter of a pagan priest.

The exegetical problem arises from the fact that Joseph marries Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, a priest of On, who was a pagan priest of a temple of Ra. This presents a challenge for interpreters as it seems to contradict the later Jewish tradition that identifies the mother as determining the child's religious identity. The Bible, however, emphasizes the father's lineage in determining Israelite identity, and the text doesn't explicitly state that Asenath converts.

But it is precisely this descent from Ephraim that comes to the fore in Jeroboam, the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite from Zereda, and ultimately in the Ephraimites, the ten lost tribes, to this day. And we cannot and do not want to foist this shoe on the house of Judah. That is why the ten tribes cannot be the house of Judah and Jews. From now on, a distinction is always made in the Word between the house of Judah and the house of Israel; together they are called the whole house of Israel.

For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: Ezek 37:16b

The prophets distinguish between the House of Judah and the House of Israel. Many believers refer to the Jews when they speak of Israel or the House of Israel. They say, "Israel and us." But from a biblical point of view, this is not correct. The House of Judah is the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin. And the House of Israel is the other ten tribes. The prophet Ezekiel expresses this very fact:

Thus saith the Lord G-d; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him (here we have the ten tribes under the leadership of Ephraim), even with the stick of Judah (the House of Judah, the Jews), and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand. Ezek 37:19

This prophetic statement by Ezekiel has not yet been fulfilled.

Synonyms for Israel are:

The House of Israel (1 Kgs 12:21; Jer 31:31)

And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 1 Kgs 12:21

Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Jer 31:31

The House of Joseph (1 Kgs 11:28)

And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph. 1 Kgs 11:28

Samaria (Hos 7:1 .8:5-6 .13:16)

When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. Hos 7:1

Thy calf, O Samaria, hath cast thee off; mine anger is kindled against them: how long will it be ere they attain to innocency? For from Israel was it also: the workman made it; therefore it is not G-d: but the calf of Samaria shall be broken in pieces. Hos 8:5-6

Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her G-d: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up. Hos 13:16

Ephraim (Hos 4:17 .5:3 .7:1)

Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Hos 4:17

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled. Hos 5:3

When I would have healed Israel, then the iniquity of Ephraim was discovered, and the wickedness of Samaria: for they commit falsehood; and the thief cometh in, and the troop of robbers spoileth without. Hos 7:1

After the division of the entire house of Israel (all 12 tribes) following Solomon's death, there was the house of Judah under the leadership of the tribe of Judah under King Rehoboam. The tribe of Judah temporarily strayed from the teachings of YHVH and was therefore led into exile in Babylon for 70 years. After 70 years, they returned to their land.

The House of Israel consisted of the ten tribes under the leadership of the tribe of Ephraim. Their king was Jeroboam, who introduced a corrupt religious system of idolatry. Because the House of Israel did not repent, they were initially exiled for 390 years, and because they still did not repent, the exile was increased to 390 times 7, which corresponds to 2,700 years.

The war with Iran is over, but not for everyone.

A few hours after the US bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, Iran fired a salvo of missiles at Israeli cities. One of them struck a block of houses. All the apartments in it were severely damaged, and the buildings in the immediate impact area were completely destroyed.

This applies similarly to the situation of thousands of Israelis. Tens of thousands of buildings were damaged in Israel, including historic Bauhaus buidings in Tel Aviv. The property damage is enormous.

We can pray

that the Lord will give many people in Israel, despite all the difficulties they are now facing, a grateful heart for the miracles they experienced during the 12 days of intense war with Iran

Thou art the G-d that doest wonders: thou hast declared thy strength among the people. Ps 77:14

that G-d will provide shelter for the tens of thousands whose homes have been damaged or destroyed, where they can find rest and from where they can participate with gratitude in the process of reconstruction

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him Ps 28:7

that He will give the children in particular a joyful heart in everything

Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem; praise thy G-d, O Zion. For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee. Ps 147:12-13

that He may grant grace and flexibility for all logistical and bureaucratic processes so that the reconstruction may proceed swiftly and effectively

the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded: Ezek 36:10b

that G-d will accompany and shape the entire process of removing all destruction and rebuilding, so that He alone will receive the glory

Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. Ezek 36:36

The weekly reading of Vayigash contains the first account of forgiveness in the Holy Scriptures and how it influences the course of a family history and an entire nation. Here we find all the Torah principles that constitute forgiveness.

Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh. Gen 44:18

Judah cautiously approaches Joseph. This introductory statement alone, that Judah approaches Joseph, shows that he is ready to face up to his actions. A natural reaction when one is guilty and sinful is to run away. But here it says that he approaches. Adam and Eve hid themselves after they had sinned. We have all run away from YHVH until we have faced up to our guilt and sin and approached YHVH.

He confesses his sin:

G-d hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. Gen 44:16b

After confessing, Judah's repentant change of behavior becomes apparent:

Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad (Benjamin) a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. Gen 44:33

His willingness to be and to be able to be a slave shows his change of heart:

Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of G-d. 1 Cor 4:1

Judah, on whose suggestion Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, confesses his guilt before Joseph and offers to be his slave. Judah himself had lost two sons and knew what such a loss meant for a father. Judah is here a messianic image of the Messiah, who also laid down his life for the lives of his brothers.

Joseph was able to forgive his brothers because they confessed their sins and repented. The whole story reflects the language of Yom Kippur: Joseph cleansed the room, a face-to-face encounter took place, reconciliation was pronounced after confession and repentance, a drawing near. It is also on Yom Kippur that the nation of Israel approaches YHVH, confesses, and asks for forgiveness. For the brothers, it was Yom Kippur, a day of judgment, but also a day of restoration, on which they walk away in the joy of Joseph's forgiveness.

YHVH's feasts are appointments with His people, which is why He also brings about special events at His feasts. We find the significance of the feasts everywhere.

In the two preceding chapters, we find symbols of Passover woven in. When Joseph sits down at the table with his brothers,

And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: Gen 44:33a

This is reminiscent of the Seder celebration, where the eldest is seated to the left and the youngest to the right of the head of the household. The money in the bag symbolizes the price paid for redemption, and the silver cup symbolizes the cup of redemption at the Seder celebration. Silver always stands for redemption.

After this repentance, Joseph was finally able to reveal his true identity:

Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. Gen 45:1-2

The Egyptians did not know that Joseph was a Jew. In the same way, there are believers from the Gentile nations who do not know that Jesus is a Jew. It was not the Egyptians (believers from the nations) who opened the eyes of the brothers (House of Judah) to the fact that Joseph (Jesus) was (is) a Jew. Nor did the brothers know that Joseph (Jesus) was a Jew. Joseph now revealed himself to both groups as a Jew. But Joseph had a very special time with his brothers from the house of Judah:

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for G-d did send me before you to preserve life. Gen 45:5

And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. Gen 45:12

There is no room for replacement theology. Not only will the house of Judah repent, but so will the congregation! And it will be Jesus Himself who will one day open the eyes of his brothers from the people of Judah, the Jews, after they have confessed their sins and repented. It is Judah who approaches Joseph (Jesus) with a changed heart. It was at Judah's instigation that Joseph was sold. And it is Judah who now approaches Joseph and is willing to give his life for his brother Benjamin. And Paul, of the tribe of Benjamin, wished

that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Rom 9:3

And Jesus of the tribe of Judah was willing to take the shame upon himself in order to save his brothers:

Who gave himself a ransom for all, 1 Tim 2:6a

Vayigash contains YHVH's project plan and mission statement, which shows how the history of the house of Judah will unfold. It is a Torah principle that biblical history is always prophecy.

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Isa 46:10

Biblical interpretations and prophetic statements can be measured against these guidelines of the Torah. If an interpretation of a passage departs from this dimension, it is incorrect. A practical example: There is a well-known Torah teacher who claims that YHVH did not require Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. He builds his argument in a seemingly conclusive manner. But with his interpretation, he departs from the prophetic level according to Isaiah 46:10, that Isaac is a picture of the Messiah.

We are rapidly approaching the day when the Messiah will say, “Ani ben Yoseph” or “Ani Ben David” (David came from the tribe of Judah). YHVH's master plan will succeed! And we can help prepare for it in one way or another.

Benaiah468 said:

Because the House of Israel did not repent, they were initially exiled for 390 years, and because they still did not repent, the exile was increased to 390 times 7, which corresponds to 2,700 years.

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The idolatry of the House of Israel consisted in abandoning the teachings of the Torah

I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing. Hos 8:12

Jeroboam introduced other festivals. The Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:34) was moved from the seventh to the eighth month

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. 1 Kgs 12:32a

Jeroboam established Dan and Bethel as places of worship, replacing Jerusalem as the place of worship

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan. 1 Kgs 12:29

YHVH had chosen another place of worship:

Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy G-d in the place which he shall choose; Deu 16:16a

Ephraim replaced another priesthood and did not take priests from the tribe of Levi:

And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi. 1 Kgs 12:31

Ephraim mixed pagan elements with true worship

Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy g-ds, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 1 Kgs 12:28

When one looks at the sins of the house of Israel, one cannot ignore the fact that they have continued to this day: The Torah is declared no longer binding, a manmade different calendar and weekly day of rest applies, the Feast of Tabernacles has not been postponed but is no longer celebrated at all, and the other feasts have been postponed: Passover has become Easter, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Firstfruits are not celebrated, the counting of the Omer (the days and weeks are counted, which leads to the counting of the weeks) is not practiced, and Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, is not celebrated in this sense.

Through replacement theology, which claims that the congregation has taken the place of Israel (which is already incorrect in its formulation), Jerusalem as YHVH's chosen city is also forgotten. Synagogues have been replaced by churches.

The sins of the two houses are explicitly mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. The sin of the house of Judah was not identical to the sins of the house of Israel. And the willingness of the two houses to repent was different, as was the degree of punishment. The sin of the House of Israel can still be found in large parts of Christianity to this day, while the House of Judah values the Torah, even if they do not yet understand their inner fulfillment through the Messiah. Whereby there are of course also the many Messianic Jews who know that the spring feasts have been fulfilled by their Messiah and that the autumn feasts will be fulfilled by Him. To say that the ten lost tribes are Jews does not fit. YHVH Himself distinguishes between both houses

I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled. They will not frame their doings to turn unto their G-d: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord. And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim fall in their iniquity: Judah also shall fall with them. Hos 5:3-5

There is something about Israel that makes people uncomfortable, but it is not what they claim. They point to politics, settlements, borders, and wars.

But if you scratch beneath the outrage, you find something deeper. A discomfort not about what Israel does, but about what Israel is.

Israel, such a small nation, should not be so powerful. Period.

Israel has no oil. No special natural resources. A country being slightly smaller as New Jersey with a population no larger than that of Switzerland.

They are surrounded by enemies. Hated in the UN. Targeted by terrorists. Condemned by celebrities. Boycotted, slandered, and attacked.

And yet they thrive as if there were no tomorrow. In the military. In medicine. In security. In technology. In agriculture. In intelligence. In morality. In their sheer, unyielding will.

They turn desert into farmland.
They make water from air.
They build satellites and send them into space.
They intercept missiles in midair.
They rescue hostages right under the noses of the world's worst regimes.
They survive wars that were supposed to wipe them out, and they win.

The world watches and cannot comprehend. So it does what people do when they witness a power they do not understand.

The world assumes it must be fraud.
It must be American aid.
It must be foreign lobbying.
It must be oppression.
It must be theft.
It must have been some dark trick that gave the Jews this power.
It must be blackmail.

For G-d forbid it should be anything else.
G-d forbid it should be real.
G-d forbid it should be deserved.
Or worse still, predestined.

The Jewish people should have disappeared long, long ago. That is how the story of the exiled, enslaved, hated minorities should have ended. But the Jews did not disappear. They actually came home, rebuilt their country, revived their language, and brought their dead back to life in memory, identity, and strength.

This is not normal.
It is not political.
It is biblical.

There is no cheat code that explains how a group of people return to their homeland after 2,000 years.
There is no rational path from gas chambers to global influence.
There is no historical precedent for surviving the Babylonians, the Romans, the Crusaders, the Inquisition, the pogroms, and the Holocaust and still showing up for work in Tel Aviv at the beginning of the week.
And during wartime, stock markets and real estate prices rise in cities affected by war.

Unless you believe in something beyond mathematics.
That is what drives the world crazy. Because if Israel is real, if this improbable, ancient, hated nation is somehow still chosen, protected, and thriving, then perhaps G-d is not a myth after all.

Perhaps He is still part of history.
Perhaps history is not a coincidence.
Perhaps evil does not have the last word.
Perhaps the Jews are not just a people... but a testimony.
They cannot bear that.

Because once you realize that Israel's survival is not only impressive but downright divine, everything changes. Your own moral compass has to be realigned. Your own ideas about history, power, and justice collapse. You realize that you are not witnessing the end of an empire. You are witnessing the beginning of something eternal.

So they deny it.
They slander it.
And rage against it.

Because it is easier to call a miracle a “fraud” than to face the possibility that G-d keeps His promises and covenants.

And He still keeps them!

Now is the time to stand up for Israel!

Canuckster said:

So Israel would be able to defend itself without American aid?

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In history Israel has shown a remarkable capacity for self defense without a great deal of US aid.

Since the 1970s the US has been a major contributor to Israel providing significant military aid and in any case Israel is grateful for it.

It is the protector of Israel Himself who guides the heart of the respective „king“ in Washington DC, no matter how his decisions turn out

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Prov 21:1

Israelis have also learned that US military aid is a double-edged sword. America's support for Israel is a strategic advantage and sends a message to Israel's enemies that a great power stands behind it. However, when that power tries to rein Israel in, it sends the opposite message and undermines deterrence. It conveys the image that Israel is a country incapable of acting without American consent.

If Kamala Harris had won, Israel would have had to figure out very quickly how to produce as much munitions as possible on its own. The Democrats wouldn't have cut aid, but they would have attached strict conditions and forced Israel to sacrifice its interests in various ways.

YHVH is still a man of war and has made Israel's attacks so much more effective than even the IDF had hoped. Every military should study Israel's “dismantling” of Hezbollah

The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. Ex 15:3

It is the Almighty of Israel who controls the destiny of Israel, i.e. He actively intervenes in Israel's affairs and guides them.

G-d will protect Israel in any case.

Canuckster said:

So the YHVH you refer to is a man, when you say "YHVH is still a man of war"? Is G-d YHVH the "man of war"?

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G-d’s role as a warrior is a significant and recurring theme in the Hebrew Bible. Peace is His ideal, yet the OT affirms that the G-d of Israel is also a man of war, who is mighty in battle and stores up weapons for the fight; Ex 15:3; Ps 24:8; Job 38:22-23.

The Bible speaks of G-d in linguistic imagery, namely as a passionate human being. It means that G-d is not distant from the world, has not withdrawn into a primal source of existence, but is passionately close to humanity and His people, preserving and loving, but also angry and sometimes destructive. To this day Israel experienced all of this and expressed and endured it in its faith in G-d.

The phrase man of war portrays YHVH as a divine warrior who actively engages in battle, particularly against the enemies of Israel. This depiction emphasizes that YHVH is not a passive or distant deity, but one who actively intervenes in history and fights for his people. While the term man of war can be understood literally, it also symbolizes YHVH's power, strength, and ability to conquer and protect.

In many OT texts, soldiers or warriors are referred to as men of war; Josh 6:3; 1 Sam 17:33. This refers to people who fight for their people, often on behalf of G-d or to protect the community.

Everything has to do with G-d, not only the individual weal and woe, but also the fate of entire nations and states, including the pressing issues of war and peace. The entire reality of life is brought together with G-d. Such thinking is a bold undertaking. But the people of G-d have learned and must learn: Those who only associate the beautiful things in life with G-d, who only talk about the dear G-d, who can only imagine G-d as an emotional cuddle corner, remain alone and without an answer in the real crises of life.

Ancient Israel was a people with political responsibility for a community, and for centuries also for a state. Securing this community required warlike actions, and not only according to the understanding of the time.

The Bible states, that Israel will literally be led into battles again in the end times; Ezek 25:14. Even if it sometimes ends up in apparent dead ends, G-d still has a plan and knows how to save His people from death

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Ps 91:7-8

G-d is prepared to stand up for His children; even against seemingly overpowering enemies. He is not only gentle and merciful, but also powerful and just. His warfare is directed against injustice, not against people per se.

How does it change your trust in G-d when you know that He is actively fighting for you?

The final ending of wars in this world is only possible for G-d, the G-d of hosts; and He too must intervene violently and destroy that which destroys people. There is a long way to go before people will turn weapons into agricultural tools, before swords become plowshares.

Canuckster said:

And why do you text "G-d" instead of God?

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This way of writing G-d, as I do, wants to express that He cannot be fully grasped by human language and to make it clear that He is beyond human imagination. But it can also, as is customary in Judaism, express reverence for Him.

Canuckster said:

OK... so in short you believe that "G-d" will protect the state of Israel even without US aid.

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Israel is in a battle for its existence. It has no choice but to fight this war alone and without the help of the US if the US will avoid being drawn into the war. As Netanyahu says:

"If we have to fight alone, we will fight alone. If it is possible to recruit the nations of the world, so much the better. But if we don't defend ourselves, no one will defend us."

G-d protects His people. He will not allow them to perish.

Canuckster said:

Thanks for answering my questions. So YHVH is God. I don't understand how being referred to as a "man", ("man of war") refers to His divinity. Would it not be more appropriate, since YHVH is not a man, to say "God of war", or for your preference, "G-d of war"?

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The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name. Ex 15:3

Here are some thoughts on how this designation refers to the divinity of YHVH:

Only G-d has the absolute power to wage and win wars without relying on human means. In the context of Exodus 15, G-d saved the people of Israel through the Red Sea and defeated the Egyptian army; a miracle that no human being could accomplish.

In the Bible, G-d is always the one who fights for his people (e.g., Deu 20:4: “For the Lord your G-d is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.”). This shows His care, but also His superiority over all other powers; a divine unique selling point.

G-d's "war" is never arbitrary or unjust, but always serves to protect, bring justice, and enforce His holy will. This fundamentally distinguishes Him from human warlords.

The connection between the title "man of war" and the name of G-d YHVH "the Lord is his name" emphasizes that this is no ordinary warrior, but the eternal, almighty G-d.

timothyu said:

Is this why Jesus was rejected as His concept of God was more pacifist?

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Jesus' rejection was due to His claim, His message, and the fact that He did not meet expectations; His “peaceful” image of G-d was one aspect of this.

timothyu said:

So it was more a matter of an internal split between Sadducees, Pharisees and the 'outsiders' Essenes'?

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The rejection of Jesus was complex and cannot be attributed solely to the division between Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes. The common people were also divided; e.g., John 7:43. Many were fascinated, others disappointed because Jesus did not meet their expectations. The Sadducees felt threatened by Jesus' criticism of the temple and his popularity. Many Pharisees rejected Jesus because he questioned their traditions, but some, like Nicodemus, were open-minded. The Essenes are not mentioned directly. They did not play a major role in the rejection of Jesus.