Last post, we talked about how Shavuot and Pentecost were the same holiday but became different due to some antisemitism that began to occur in the 2nd century church. Yet, the theme of the two has remained the same, even though how they are celebrated does not necessarily include this theme. Sound confusing? Let me explain.

When I first began talking about Shavuot some time ago, I mentioned that this Jewish holiday had a pattern of inclusion (A Pattern of Inclusion), and it seemed that this was the theme of his holiday (A Pattern of Inclusion) and that God wanted the Israelites to pick up on this theme (Pass It On). This was demonstrated by several events that occurred which dealt with the theme of inclusion: the giving of the Law to the Israelites (Ex 19-24), the incorporation of Rahab into the nation of Israel (Js 6), the incorporation of Ruth into the nation of Israel (book of Ruth), the birth of Christ (Lk 2) (Shavuot), and the ultimate inclusion of God giving the Holy Spirit (Ac 2) (Ultimate Inclusion).

We also discussed that this feast was also about paradigm shifts (Shavuot for Gentiles?). For example, the giving of the Law to the Israelites meant God went from dealing with individual patriarchs to a nation to be his representative to the world (Ex 19:6), the birth of Christ was a paradigm shift from God using a nation to God using individuals to reach the world (2Co 5:20), and he has empowered us to do so through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ac 2).

Unfortunately, both Jews and Christians have lost sight of these themes. We have become exclusionary rather than inclusionary. Most Jews today celebrate this holiday as an agricultural holiday, if they celebrate it at all. While it is true that this had always been an agricultural holiday ever since its institution by God to the Israelites (Lv 23:15-21; Dt 16:9-12), it was also about caring for the needs of others (Lv 23:22) as well as recognition and thanks to God for the blessings he bestows. As stated above, this seemed to also be about the inclusion of others because of the important happenings that God had occur on this special holiday.

Christians today, if they do celebrate Pentecost, have lost all ties to it being anything agricultural as a way to recognize that all comes from God to them. While they do celebrate God sending his Holy Spirit and it marking the beginning of his ecclesia, his Church, I am not sure that anyone recognizes that the church was originally only composed of Jews. We Gentiles were only brought in because many of these Jews shared the gospel message to their Gentile neighbors.

Unfortunately, what was started as a means of inclusion has become a wall of separation between Jew and Gentile. This is unfortunate. We need to go back to our roots and really understand our history so we can see God is a uniter and we are the ones who create the division which God does not desire at all. May we ever seek to untie all, both Jew and Gentile, under God’s umbrella of inclusion though Jesus Christ.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

There seems to be so much division in our world today with many trying to find ways to make us all against each other rather than us finding common ground so we can build a relationship with each other. Yet, what does the Bible say about this? You will find that the God of the universe wants a personal relationship with everyone. How amazing is that?

Now the Bible does make distinctions between us as citizens of the world. Yet, it seems to only look at people in two ways: Jews and Gentiles. Is that significant?

It seems this is very significant because while the Bible provides these distinctions, it really is a way for God to provide inclusion rather than exclusion. I did several blog posts on this point of inclusion. We find that God cares for both sets of people. While, yes, he chose Jews as “his chosen people” (Ex 19:5; Dt 14:2), this phrase means something different than most tout. It wasn’t that Jews were more special, but that Jews had a greater responsibility to point the world to their God, Yahweh. You see, God had a plan from the very beginning of the world for inclusion of all people on Earth into His plan.

My book Why is a Gentile World Tied to a Jewish Timeline? covers this topic and helps you to see that the Bible has a plot just like any other book. Really? you may be asking. There’s a plot? Yes, there really is. But there is a lot of “stuff” in there you may be thinking. And, yes. Yes, there is. But isn’t there “stuff” in your life also? What does this “stuff” do? It distracts us from what is truly important. We often need to look through the “stuff” to find the truly important things in life. So, if you get to “stuff” in your reading and that bogs you down, just plow through because something amazing is on the other side of it.

You will find that the Bible is really a unique book. It has mystery, intrigue, subterfuge, action, adventure, and peril. You can even find what almost seems like science fiction. It presents a plan that incorporates all these elements into a timeline that, although Jewish in nature, incorporates everyone on Earth into it. You see, God is way more inclusive than most give him credit. So, give the book a try. It’s a little more scholarly than my other books, but is written in a very conversational style, so you will find it easy to read. You may just find something about God and the Bible that will reveal a fact you likely haven’t yet realized. So, give it a try and read what a great future can await you.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

When you have something good, you want to pass it on, right? That’s how God feels. As we saw in the previous post, God wanted Israel to be separate from the world but not exclude the world: i.e., he wanted Israel to pass it on. Israel was to be the example for all to follow. To demonstrate this to them, he gave them an example immediately after they entered the Promised Land.

Before they entered the land of Canaan, Joshua had two spies go into Jericho and check things out (Js 2:1). A woman by the name of Rahab hid them at one point to help ensure they were not found out (Js 2:4). These spies reported back to Joshua that the people of Jericho feared the Israelites and now was the appropriate time to take the land as their own (Js 2:24).

The people of Israel first had to cross the Jordan River. Joshua used this as a faith-building exercise. If God could get them safely across the river which was swollen due to the Spring rains, then surely he could deliver Jericho into their hands (Js 3:10). As soon as the feet of the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant touched the water of the river, it parted, and everyone entered Canaan on dry land (Js 3:13-17). After crossing the river, they all encamped at Gilgal (Js 3:19), approximately ten miles from Jericho. When the people of Canaan heard how God parted the Jordan River for them to cross, they all feared the Israelites (Js 5:1). This gave Joshua the opportunity to stop and renew their covenant with God by having all the males circumcised (Js 5:2-9). This was around the tenth day of the first month.

On the fourteenth day of the first month, they held Pesach (Passover; Js 5:10). The next day (Matzah or Feast of Unleavened Bread), they ate unleavened bread and roasted grain from their new land (Js 5:11). The next day, the manna which God had fed them for forty years ceased and they ate the produce from their new land (Js 5:12). This would have represented their first Bikkurim (or Feast of Firstfruit). Joshua then had to let the men completely heal, get them battle ready, and have all the people travel the ten miles to Jericho. It is likely it would have taken the men approximately two weeks to recover from the pain and soreness of their circumcision. Then it is likely it would have taken about a month to group and train the men to prepare for battle and go over battle strategy.

While it is true they expected God to fight their battle for them as he had said (Js 6:2), I’m sure Joshua wanted to have a regimen of fighting men that would be under his strict authority—just in case. Then, it is likely it would have taken a few days to get all the people—close to two million of them—to travel the ten miles, get camped and ready for what God was going to do for them. They then marched around the city once a day for seven days and then seven times on the seventh day (Js 6:4, 12-15). Adding up all this time of preparation, it is not hard to imagine it took them approximately 50 days after their first Bikkurim until the walls of Jericho fell. That would place this time of the conquering of Jericho around Shavuot (Pentecost). As we stated previously, this is the feast of inclusion and that is what happened here.

Once the walls fell on the seventh day of their marching, the Israelites took the city and killed everyone in the city, except for Rahab and her household (Js 6:17, 21-22). Rahab and her family were spared just as the spies had stated. Therefore, Rahab who was a Canaanite, a Gentile, was allowed to live as an Israelite. She married Salmon who was of the tribe of Judah. She and Salmon had a son named Boaz (Mt 1:5) who also became an instrument of inclusion which God used to show this pattern of inclusion again. We’ll discuss that next time.

Don’t you find it interesting that this story in the Bible, which became a most notorious story of all the Biblical stories, fell on Shavuot which God had instituted as a feast to represent inclusion and a feast where paradigm shifts occurred? God doesn’t shove it in their faces and say, “Look, I’m showing you what this feast is about.” No, he lets the realization of what he is doing seep in subtly. Not everyone would get it, but those who paid attention would. While others were screaming, we are God’s chosen people, keep others at bay, God was saying, no, see, I’m giving you examples for you to follow. Follow my lead and be the example, the banner, the ambassador I want you to be for the world. God is still the God of Inclusion. Are you acting that way or are you also trying to keep others at bay. Your future is sure and that is all that matters. But is it supposed to be that way? What if others before you did that? Would you have a relationship with God now if they had that same attitude. God was saying to the Israelites to pass on what he had taught them. He’s still saying the same thing today.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Everyone wants to feel included, don’t they? Don’t you? Remember those elementary school games where sides were chosen. One by one the teams were formed. Always the best athletic ones were chosen first. The rest of us were chosen last. Even worse was when there was an odd number and the captains had to decide who would take the last one. That one had to hear the reasons why he shouldn’t be on each team and then one reluctantly allows this, now deflated and ego-broken soul, on their team. Those were the good ole days, right?

Did things really get better as you got older? Sometimes. But, often, the ways of exclusion get subtler and more sophisticated, but the exclusion was still there and still hurt just as much. Why is this? And why does it bleed into every area of one’s life, including religion?

Yet, this was not God’s plan. Believe it or not, God had a plan of inclusion from the very beginning. Does that surprise you? Maybe your thinking about Israel being God’s chosen people. That sounds exclusionary, doesn’t it? Yet, it isn’t. Or, rather, wasn’t supposed to be that way. Let’s discuss these steps of inclusion that God wanted from the beginning.

As you’ve noticed, if you have read many of my posts, a lot of them center around the Jewish feasts. Why is that? Because they are the secret to God’s word and gives us an insight into God’s heart. This time, we’re focusing on Shavuot. This occurred fifty days after Bikkurim, or the feast of Firstfruit. In the land of Israel, this was around the time of the wheat harvest. Yet, the very first Shavuot occurred out in the desert, around Mt. Sinai. Why? Because it set the whole stage of not only what God wanted to do for Israel, but with Israel as well.

How do we know this was the first Shavuot? Recall that the first Pesach (Passover) occurred as the children of Israel made a mass exodus from Egypt. Here is the order of events over the next fifty days:

—  Left Egypt: 15th day of 1st month (Nu 33:3 – 1st day of Unleavened Bread)

—  Day 1: 16th day of 1st month (First Fruit)

—  Day 46: Arrived at Sinai 1st day of 3rd month (Ex 19:1)

—  Days 46-47: 2 days of consecration of people (Ex 19:10-11)

—  Day 48: God appeared as thunder, lightning, smoke and fire on the mountain, the mountain shook, and God spoke in thunder (Ex 19:16-20). God called Moses up to the mountain, gave him the 10 commandments and other laws; Aaron, his sons and 70 elders of Israel also on mountain worshipped at a distance (Ex 19:20 – 24:3)

—  Day 49: Moses wrote down all the words God had given him (Ex 24:4)

—  Day 50: Moses read the Book of the Covenant to them, they agreed to it and Moses offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, consecrated the people with “the blood of the covenant.” Moses, Aaron, his sons, and 70 elders of Israel ate with God (likely the Pre-Incarnate Christ) (Ex 24: 4-11)

What’s that you say? Starting to sound exclusionary? Before any agency can help everyone, it must be set up by a select few. This is sort of what was happening here. Yes, God did call them his “chosen people” (Ex 19:5). But, we need to understand why he said that. This was not a statement of exclusion, but a statement of responsibility. They were chosen to be priests to the world (Ex 19:6). That is, they were to be the standard for all other nations to follow. They had been created as a nation here at Mt. Sinai to be the model for other to follow. Starting to sound more inclusionary? Let’s not forget that inclusion does not come without requirements, consequences, and change, but it also comes with many blessings and rewards.

So, this is why Israel was created. Israel was the standard, the banner of God to the world. This was the first step of God’s inclusion for everyone. Did it work? Well, it could have. It could have been glorious. But, no, it failed. Why? Pride. Pride is always exclusionary and never inclusionary. The words “chosen people” became a battle cry rather than an invitation. Consequences occurred.

Yet, God did not give up. He continued to use Shavuot as an example of inclusion. We’ll look at one of those examples next time. Let’s remember that just because God expects change, he is not being exclusionary, but is offering a way of inclusion into something he has for us that will be even more glorious. And that requires faith. Faith is the key. Faith is the pride destroyer.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

How did God reach out to Gentiles before New Testament times? First, we need to understand the succession of Gentile powers which occurred millennia before. How did these Gentile powers influence Israel? And how did God use these Gentile powers to his advantage – and to theirs?

Previous posts have discussed how the kingdom of Assyria took the Northern Kingdom of Israel captive in 722 BC, Babylon conquered Assyria in 606 BC, and then took the Southern Kingdom of Judah captive in 586 BC. Yet, there were a series of sieges of Jerusalem before this final destruction. The first siege occurred in 605 BC, just a year after defeating Assyria. Daniel was one of those taken captive during this first siege (Dn 1:1-7). God gives King Nebuchadnezzar a dream about a statue (Dn 2), and he later builds an actual statue of his vision demanding all to worship it (Dn 3:1-6). Daniel’s four friends refused to bow down to the statue and are thrown in a fiery furnace, but no harm comes to them (Dn 3:7-27). Nebuchadnezzar then proclaims no one in his realm should say anything derogatory against the God of Daniel or they would be destroyed (Dn 3:28-29). God used the arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar to display His power and God received glory throughout his entire kingdom. No one knows how many proselytes were achieved because of this, but I’m sure it gave the Jews throughout the kingdom an opportunity to proclaim their God to many Gentiles in Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.

Later, God struck Nebuchadnezzar with boanthropy because of his arrogance (Dn 4:32). This is a mental disease where a person thinks of himself as an ox and where one’s hair lengthens and one’s fingernails become very coarse and thickened. When Nebuchadnezzar’s senses returned to him, he admitted God was the Most High (Dn 4:34, 37). This is the second time, recorded anyway, that God made the citizens of the Babylonian Empire hear about God. The Jews throughout the kingdom could then help their Gentile neighbors understand more about their God.

Next, once the Persian Empire conquered Babylon, Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. This occurred in the first year Cyrus conquered Babylon. This was actually prophesied by Isaiah over one-hundred and fifty years prior to the event (Is 44:24-45:13). Through a series of circumstances, God allowed Daniel to be thrown into a lion’s den because of his worship of God. Yet, God preserved Daniel (Dn 6:22). Cyaxares II (Darius) then gave a proclamation to the entire kingdom that everyone should respect the God of Daniel (Dn 6:26-27). God was now proclaimed to an even larger Gentile audience, as the Persian Empire was much larger than the Babylonian Empire. It stretched from India to the west coast of Turkey.

Then, once King Xerxes I ruled the kingdom, a prominent person within the kingdom, named Haman, was embittered against the Jews and made a plot to achieve their destruction. His deception was found out by a Jew named Mordecai whose niece, named Esther, who had recently been named Queen, told of his plot to Xerxes (Es 4:7-8, 7:3-6, 8:3-4). Xerxes allowed Mordecai and Esther to draft a letter with his seal which was sent to all of the provinces of the Persian Empire. It allowed the Jews to fight back without restraint against any who would attack them as Haman had ordered (Es 8:9-10). If nothing else, this caused many within the empire to at least fear or have a respect for the God of the Jews. I’m sure it made many question who this God the Jews served was and wanted to know more about him.

Many years later, Alexander the Great came on the scene and conquered all the land from Greece all the way to India, including all the land of the Persian Empire. When he approached Jerusalem, Jaddua, the priest in Jerusalem, showed Alexander the prophecy about him in the book of Daniel (Dn 11:1-3). Alexander believed this confirmed a vision he had received earlier. Alexander then allowed Jerusalem to be saved from attack, and the Jews were allowed to abide by their own laws. Many Jews went with him on his campaign. This further allowed many within Alexander the Great’s army, and many throughout the kingdom, to hear about the God of the Jews.

We can know many proselytes were created because in Acts 2 many of all these areas, now part of the Roman and Parthian Empires, were present in Jerusalem for Shavuot (i.e., Pentecost). This again helps us see how God has always been inclusive of everyone. Isn’t our God wonderful!

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

We mentioned in our last post that most times God presented a prophecy of hope to the very same nations about which he prophesied a prophecy of doom. When the Old Testament prophets prophesied about future events they were not necessarily concerned about the chronology of those events. Their main message was to help the people understand the seriousness of the coming destruction and captivity God had prophesied and encourage the people to repent.

The prophecy of future prosperity was a message of hope and an answer to the concerns the various prophets had at the time as well as to help the faithful have and maintain their hope. For example, God showed Ezekiel His presence leaving the temple in Jerusalem (Ek 10-11) because He was going to remove His protection and allow the city to be conquered by the Babylonians. Of course, Ezekiel would be concerned and wonder if God’s presence would remain removed forever. So, God revealed to Ezekiel His presence would one day return and He helped Ezekiel to know that by the specifics which were provided (Ek 43:1-12). The point of this vision to Ezekiel was not to put it into a historical timeline; it was to provide the answer to his questions and to provide the hope he needed to hear.

The earth will always have nations, so many of these prophecies in the Old Testament will continue or be realized even in our future. Once Christ returns the second time to earth and sets up His Theocracy, the earth will still be divided into many nations (Rv 20:3). However, nations will no longer serve themselves but serve the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Although Israel has suffered much ridicule and abuse over the centuries, she will then be the one nation which all other nations will revere (Is 60:14-15). Many of the nations mentioned earlier which have received God’s judgment will now seek to come to Jerusalem to worship the Messiah, now their King (Is 11:10-16). Members of these nations will help to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, but the gates will never need to be shut again (Is 60:3-16).

God’s promises are not bound by time. One day, God will restore the tribes of Jacob and they will be a light to the Gentiles (Is 42:6, 49:6). The mission which God gave the children of Israel at Sinai to be priests to the nations (Ex 19:6) will come to fruition. Israel will be the one to proclaim to all the nations how to worship their God. They will be known as priests and ministers to all the nations (Is 61:3) and those who proclaim the glory of God (Is 66:19). The members of all the nations, as well as the rulers of these nations, will revere every Israelite (Is 62:12). Members of nations will be eager to worship the King and will even carry children of Israelites in their arms and on their shoulders with reverence and joy so they can travel with them to Jerusalem to worship the Lord (Is 49:22-23).

These prophecies still have meaning for us today just as they will for our future. It is a constant reminder to us that God’s word is truth. What God says will come to pass because time is irrelevant to the fulfillment of these prophecies. At the end of God’s longsuffering comes justice (usually interpreted as wrath). Our current age will end with the Tribulation. It’s a matter of when and not if.

We have seen God has a plan for nations. The Bible speaks of those nations in the Middle East because they are the most associated with Israel. Yet, it has always been true that nations who bless Israel are blessed and those who curse Israel are cursed.

We have also seen God has a plan for individuals. An individual‘s response to God trumps God’s plan for a nation. We have seen many examples of this in scripture which have been presented here and in previous posts. God’s words of doom always come with a word of hope. Our hope today is in Jesus Christ who will save us from God’s wrath to come. Aren’t you glad we have a God who plans for us like that?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

God has a plan for both individuals as well as nations. However, the two are not always tied together. In scripture we can see how individuals can get trapped on both sides of how a nation responds to God. Many times, individuals’ obedience to God will lead to the prosperity of the nation (Pr 11:10). We also see that many times the righteous may undergo consequences of a nation’s judgment (Ec 8:14). Yet God promises to look out for righteous individuals (Ps 1:6, 11:7; Pr 12:7; Is 3:10; Mt 13:43). God always seems to put the actions of individuals above the actions of nations. Let’s examine a few examples.

When Joshua first led the Israelites across the Jordan River into their Promised Land of Canaan, the city of Jericho was the first city they attacked. God stated the city was slated for total annihilation: no individual, livestock, or plunder was to be taken – all was to be dedicated to God (Js 6:18-21). Yet, Rahab and her family were saved because of her actions and belief (Js 6:23, 25). She knew God was above all other gods and would make Israel prosper no matter what (Js 2:10-11). Because of her response to Him, God rewarded her faith (Js 6:25). She became the great, great grandmother of King David (Mt 1:5-6).

Another example was Ruth. Moab was a country between Edom and the tribe of Reuben on the eastern side of the Jordan River. The people of Moab were descendants of Lot, a nephew of Abraham (Gn 19:30-38). When the Israelites were heading to Canaan, the king of Moab refused to let them pass through their land (Jd 11:17). Later, another king of Moab made Israel subject to him, but Israel later made Moab subject to them through the leadership of the judge Ehud (Jd 3:12-30). Moabites and Israelites became enemies (Jd 3:28). Yet, because of Ruth’s devotion to Naomi, her mother-in-law, and her devotion to God (Ru 1:16-17), she, too, was saved and blessed by God (Ru 4:13-22): she became the grandmother to King David (Mt 1:5-6).

A third example was Asenath. She was the daughter of an Egyptian priest of On (also known as Heliopolis). She was given to Joseph as a wife by Pharaoh himself (Gn 41:45). While scripture is silent as to her conversion, it is likely she did because as the book of Exodus opens, Joseph’s descendant are already incorporated into the lives of the other children of Israel. Although Ephraim and Manasseh were half Egyptian, their descendants were considered Israeli by the rest of the Israelites as well as by future Pharaohs. Both Ephraim and Manasseh became two of the larger tribes within the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

A fourth example were the Gibeonites. These were Amorite descendants (Hivites) who God had told Joshua to have annihilated (Js 3:10) as the Israelites took possession of the Promised Land of Canaan (Js 9:24). The Gibeonites pretended to be from a far country, wanted to worship the God of Israel, and asked Joshua to make a covenant with them (Js 9:6-15). While the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelite leaders into making a covenant with them, Joshua still honored the covenant and made them servants to the Levites (Js 9:23). They and their descendants hewed wood and drew water for service of the tabernacle, and later for the temple (Js 9:27). In order to perform duties of worship, they would have had to become proselytes and their males circumcised (Gn 17:11-14; Ex 12:48-49). God also honored this covenant and King David later had to repay retribution for the Gibeonites who King Saul had put to death (2Sa 21:1). The Gibeonites later became the temple servants (1Ch 9:2) and some even returned to Jerusalem from Babylonian exile with Zerubbabel (Er 2:43) and Ezra (Er 8:20) to continue in this service. They also helped Nehemiah repair the city’s wall (Ne 3:26) and they were incorporated into Jewish society (Ne 11:3). Although those in the beginning may not have been devoted proselytes, God honored future generations that became devoted to Him.

From these examples, we see that while God has plans for nations, an individual’s response to God is primary. This may be a different view than you’ve had of God before, but doesn’t it show how loving God really is to us? Aren’t you glad you serve a God like that?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Although we read about the “wrath of God” in the Bible, a closer look shows it to be the consequence of sin. One of the most brought up scenarios of God being wrathful is his command for Israel to destroy the Amorites and to show no mercy (Dt 7:1-2). Why would God do this? The understanding of this takes us back to Abraham (Gn 15:16) where God stated to him his descendants would be slaves in Egypt for 400 years and then return because “the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.” This decision by God did two things: (1) it gave Israel a way to become an unfettered nation, and (2) it gave the Amorites time to respond to God. Yet, the Amorites refused to follow God. Their practices included sensuous and orgiastic fertility cult worship, including male and female shrine prostitutes. Even other nations did not go to such extremes in brutality, lust, and abandon. In addition, they practiced child sacrifice which sometimes included the child being placed in the fire while alive. These types of practices seem incomprehensible to us today.

Yet, annihilation was not the common command given by God. The main emphasis was to have the inhabitants leave the land (Ex 23:27-30). Only if they stayed did destruction follow. Yet, even then, total annihilation only applied to the cities within the land which God had given the Israelites for an inheritance (Dt 20:16-18). During any other engagement, the Israelites were to first make an offering of peace (Dt 20:10). If the people accepted the offer, everyone would become a labor force for Israel. However, if they refused, then all of the men would be killed while the women, children, and livestock would become plunder (Dt 20:11-15).

The command for annihilation was also two-fold. First, the people’s evil had become so widespread it was like a cancer spreading throughout the region to larger and larger areas and they had resisted God’s opportunities to repent, which included the following: God supplied the godly influence of Melchizedek (Gn 14:18-20); God supplied the godly influence of Abraham (Gn 12:6); and God caused the destruction of other Amorites as a wake-up call (Gn 14:1-12). These all seemed to go unheeded. Second, in order for Israel to be a light to the rest of the world, they had to eliminate all elements which were ungodly. Israel was to become the standard for the world. A standard must be flawless, or else it is not a standard. This was the reason Israel was held to a higher standard than other nations. Israel was not to exclude outsiders from their land – after all, three main trade routes connecting three continents went through this area: Way of the Sea (also called Via Maria), Ridge Route, and King’s Highway. All three of these routes would bring Gentiles through Israel so they could be taught the ways of God. However, they would be required to exclude wicked practices. Non-Israelites had to abide by the same laws of the land as did the Israelites (Ex 12:48-49, 20:10; Lv 16:29, 17:12, 15; Nu 15:14, 16). It seems God has always expected mankind to understand and follow what he knows is right (Ro 1:18-20), whether being his “chosen” people or not. Thus, this sin of ignoring one’s conscience is what led to the flood (Gn 6:5). Justice seems to always follow a failed response to the love of God’s longsuffering.

God often put the alien living in the land in the same category as the poor, orphan, and widow. They were to be taken care of in a loving way: allowed to glean the corners of fields and left-overs following olive and grape harvests (Lv 23:22; Dt 24:20-21), treated judiciously (Dt 1:16; 24:17), should not be taken advantage of (Dt 24:14), and part of the third-year tithe would be for the alien (Dt 26:12). This was because God stated He loved the alien (Dt 10:18), and the Israelites were to remember they were once slaves in Egypt (Dt 24:22).

Yet, those Gentiles living in the land had to obey the laws of the land (Ex 12:49; Lv 24:22): allowed to glean the corners of fields and left-overs following olive and grape harvests (Lv 23:22; Dt 24:20-21), had to observe the Sabbath (Ex 20:10), had to not work on the Day of Atonement (Lv 16:29), could not eat blood (Lv 17:10) but had to drain the blood from the animal before preparing and eating (Lv 17:13), had to cleanse themselves when encountering anything dead (Lv 17:15), would be put to death if they offered their children as a sacrifice to any god (Lv 20:2) or if they blasphemed the name of the Lord (Lv 24:16), had to abide by the rules of redemption and of the Jubilee (Lv 25:47-50), and had to abide by the decisions of the judges of the land (Dt 1:16). They were to be taught about God and His Law, just as were the Israelites (Dt 31:12-13). If they decided to become a proselyte, then all the Mosaic laws applied, and all males had to be circumcised before they could celebrate Passover (Ex 12:48).

All of this helps us to see that faith has always been God’s plan, even in the Old Testament (Gn 15:6; Ps 31:1; Ho 6:6; Hk 2:4). Judaism as a whole was not exclusive, but inclusive, of Gentiles. So, our God has always cared for everyone. This helps us see how and why he also cares for us. He cares for you. Don’t you want a God like that?

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

Sometimes I think, for some reason, the Old Testament has received a bad rap. It seems to have a reputation of demonstrating God’s wrath and exclusion whereas the New Testament has a reputation of demonstrating God’s love and inclusion. However, God has always been inclusive of everyone. His character does not change (Ml 3:6), yet the way he works has. So, let’s see his inclusivity in the Old Testament.

First, we see this in several promises he made to key individuals, as noted by Kaiser (1):

1.      Promise to Eve – God promised to send the One to come: The LORD God said to the serpent, “… I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gn 3:14a, 15). We later find that this one to come, i.e., Jesus Christ, did indeed come for everyone (Jn 3:16).

2.      Promise to Shem – God promised to be with him: “May God enlarge Japheth, and let him dwell in the tents of Shem, and let Canaan be his servant” (Gn 9:27). Since all the nations of the world came from these three sons of Noah, God is saying that all the earth will be blessed through Shem. Abraham, Israel, and even Christ came through his descendants.

3.      Promise to Abraham – God promised all of the earth would be blessed through him: Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country … and I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all of the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Gn 12:1-3). Again, this is somewhat similar to the promise God gave to Shem, but it is now narrowed more specifically for who is responsible. Yet, the blessing is again for the whole world.

4.      Moses’ Encounter with Pharaoh – God would be proclaimed to all the earth: “For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth … But for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth” (Ex 9:14, 16). God used the extraordinary to get everyone’s attention.

5.      Israel a Kingdom of Priests – to the whole world: “… and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). Israel’s responsibility was to help the entire world understand who God is and to have a powerful encounter with Him.

6.      David’s Rule – for all humanity: Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord GOD. You have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come, and this is instruction for mankind, O Lord GOD!.” (2Sa 7:18-19). God is saying that David’s future rule will be a blessing to all mankind. In Christ’s future kingdom, there will be many kings. David will be the king of the nation of Israel. And Israel will be leading the world in the worship of God.

7.      Psalms – Often told all the earth to praise God: “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!” (Ps 67:3); “Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!” (Ps 96:1); “Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” (Ps 117:1). Inclusion seems very prominent here.

8.      Israel a Spiritual Example – for all humanity: Bring forth justice to all nations (Is 42:1); A light for all nations (Is 42:6); “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” (Is 49:6). Again, while Israel is the key nation, it is used to lead all the earth in the worship of the Lord.

So, we see that God had great plans for mankind and how we would get to know Him. So, what went wrong? We’ll discuss some of that next time.

(1) Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 15-63.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens

This year Shavuot occurs in early June. It is also known as Pentecost or Feast of Weeks, and occurs in the third month of the Jewish calendar, fifty days after the Feast of Firstfruit (Bikkurim). This is one of the Jewish feasts mentioned in Leviticus 23. They all have a prophecy component to them as well as a memorial component.

This is a feast marking paradigm changes. This marked the change from living under God’s promise to living under God’s Law. Israel became a nation before God on this day at Mt Sinai. The Israelites left Egypt on the 15th day of 1st month (Nu 33:3 – 1st day of Unleavened Bread). The following are the days up to Shavuot:

Day 1: 16th day of 1st month (Firstfruit)

Day 46: Arrived at Sinai 1st day of 3rd month (Ex 19:1)

Days 46-47: 2 days of consecration of people (Ex 19:10-11)

Day 48: God appeared as thunder, lightning, smoke and fire on the mountain, the mountain shook, and God spoke in thunder (Ex 19:16-20). God called Moses and Aaron up to the mountain, gave them the 10 commandments and other laws, met with Aaron, his sons and 70 elders of Israel (Ex 19:20 – 24:3)

Day 49: Moses wrote down all the words God had given him (Ex 24:4)

Day 50: Moses read the Book of the Covenant to them, they agreed to it and Moses offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, consecrated the people with “the blood of the covenant.” Moses, Aaron, his sons, and 70 elders of Israel ate with God (likely the Pre-Incarnate Christ) (Ex 24: 4-11).

On the 50th day after Firstfruits (Hence: Pentecost or Weeks), two loaves, made with fine wheat flower and yeast, are brought as a wave offering before the Lord. This was a picture of inclusion. One example of this was the inclusion of Rahab into Israel at the fall of Jericho (Js 6:22-23). The Israelites celebrated Passover (Pesach) shortly after crossing the Jordan River, they renewed their covenant by having all the men circumcised, met to worship, and then took the city of Jericho. The time for all these events to happen would likely take some time, so being at Jericho around the time of Shavuot would be likely.

Another example of inclusion was Ruth, originally from Moab, and Boaz, from Judah. Boaz married Ruth around the time of Shavuot: “So, Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law” (Ru 2:23). Barley harvest was at time of Firstfruit. Wheat harvest was at the time of Shavuot.

Christ’s birth marked another paradigm change. Christ was likely born on Shavuot 2 BC (Sivan or June). His conception was likely on Rosh Hashanah 3 BC (Tishri 1st or September 10th). Shavuot of 2 BC was Sivan 6th or June 8th. The Jewish calendar had another month added to the calendar in 2 BC – making the days between Rosh Hashanah and Shavuot 272 days (average gestation is 280 days). Therefore, a very viable period of gestation between conception and birth. Christ’s birth was definitely a paradigm change for Israel – and for the world. He brought the true meaning of Scripture back to life and his death was for all of mankind and not just for the Jews. Again, a message of inclusion.

The giving of the Holy Spirit on Shavuot (Pentecost) marked another paradigm change (Acts 2). The Holy Spirit was given to Christ’s followers 50 days after His resurrection. Christ’s resurrection occurred on Firstfruits. The Holy Spirit was given on Pentecost (Shavuot). This is considered the birth of the Church. However, the first followers were Jewish and/or Jewish proselytes. Later, Gentiles were added to the church – another message of inclusion. Because of the message of total inclusion, this is likely the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy.

Many have tried to understand the meaning of the two loaves of bread (made with yeast) used in this feast and what symbolic meaning they provide:

1.      Two tablets of the Law given at Mt. Sinai

2.      Two houses of Israel

3.      Old Testament; New Testament

4.      The two characteristics of the Messiah (suffering & reigning)

5.      Jew & Gentile

However, once you understand the reason for the feast, then the meaning is clear: the church is composed of both Jews and Gentiles. The conversion of Saul put the inclusion of Gentiles into the church on fast-track.

Why is this important? Shavuot marks the beginning of the Church Age. It is interesting that all the feasts from this point on allows Gentiles to be a part of them. Yet non-proselytized Gentiles were not part of the original church. We need to be sure that our world-view is correct to Biblical teaching. We need to look at all of Scripture to be sure we have interpreted specific parts correctly. Paul was very clear that the Church Age was a secret mystery revealed to him by God, but it would come to an end (Ro 11:25 – The Church Age will come to an end; Ro 11:26 – All of Israel will be saved). We have been allowed to be part of Christ’s kingdom due to God’s grace.

Isn’t it amazing how God’s word reveals such marvelous secrets to us, that when understood, seem not so much a secret after all – especially since it only echoes God’s character.

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Visit Books & Words to Inspire by Randy C. Dockens