THE HIDDEN ONES (Part 1)

Transcription

1 THE HIDDEN ONES (Part 1) I THE PLOT AGAINST ISRAEL A. The Enemies of God Raise a Tumult 1. In times of despair, Israel has often called upon her people to pray Psalm This particular psalm requests Divine intervention on behalf of Israel. 3. This Psalm lists the ancient nations who are presently conspiring to destroy her. Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate you have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted together against your sheltered ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more. - Psalm 83:1-4 (NKJV) 4. Make a tumult in Heb. hamun. a. Hum, roar b. Interestingly, the word, phonetically, reminds of Haman the Agagite. 5. The primary object of their hatred is not Israel but God Himself. a. He is the one they despise and raise up against. 6. Consequently, these nations are described as being your enemies. 7. They are powerless against God and direct their wrath against Israel. 8. They secretly counsel with one another in how to destroy the chosen nation. 9. Crafty is the root aram which is descriptive of serpent in Gen. 3:1 10. Counsel is sod secret. 11. Their goal is to annihilate Israel so that the very name Israel will be forgotten. 12. The president of Iran s threat to wipe Israel off the map. B. To Wipe Israel Off the Map 1. Scripture tells us that God is Spirit (Jn. 4:24) yet works through flesh and blood. 2. Specifically through His people (His Body) called Israel. 3. He said: Israel is My Son, My firstborn - Exodus 4:22 (NKJV) 4. The firstborn is entitled to the birthright and blessing of the Father. 5. This fact has not gone unnoticed by the Adversary when it comes to Israel. 6. It is logical to conclude that the Adversary also works through flesh and blood. 7. Through them he wants to destroy the people that God calls His son. 8. Psalm 83 hints that the Adversary desires to strike and defeat God by annihilating His people Israel. Page 1 of 10

2 9. He is not content to cut them off from being a nation, but further desires the name of Israel be remembered no more. 10. Why is that important to him? II THE PURPOSE OF ISRAEL A. Ya akov the Supplanter? 1. Isaac s wife Rebecca became pregnant after the LORD intervened (Gen. 25). 2. This pregnancy was troubling to Rebecca because of struggle within her womb. 3. The LORD tells her that twins are to be born of her. 4. Furthermore, the LORD reveals that the older one will serve the younger one. 5. The first one is born red and looks as if he is wearing a hairy garment. a. He is called Esau (pronounced Esav) or hairy (Gen. 25:25). 6. Esau, as written in Hebrew, is related to the Hebrew word for grass. a. Specifically the unfruitful grass the weed, the tare. 7. His younger brother has his hand latched onto Esau s heel: Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob. - Genesis 25:26 (NKJV) 8. The Hebrew name Jacob is Ya akov. 9. Historically, Jewish and Christian commentators have translated Ya akov as supplanter or deceiver. 10. If we presume this is accurate, the struggle in the womb was Jacob s attempt to supplant his brother s birthright. 11. The evidence is the fact that his hand laid hold of his brother s heel. 12. It is true that the root for Ya akov ( akav) means to supplant, it is also true that this same root means heel. 13. When yud, a hand, is attached to the word akav a heel it forms the Ya akov. 14. Considering context, it is obvious that Jacob, instead of supplanter, is hand on heel. 15. Furthermore it is Esau who first accuses Jacob as supplanter. And Esau said, Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing! Genesis 27:36 (NKJV) 16. Note that Esau was profane (Heb. 12:16) and despised the birthright (Gen.25:34) 17. Any accusation he rails against Jacob should be considered suspect. B. Hand On Heel Why? 1. Why was his hand on his brother s heel? Page 2 of 10

3 2. Considering the struggle who is born first becomes critically important. 3. Consider that the LORD had chosen Jacob and not Esau (Mal. 1:2-3) I have loved you, says the LORD. Yet you say, In what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the LORD. Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness. - Malachi 1:2-3 (NKJV) 4. Because Esau born first, Jacob would be a threat to Esau s perceived primacy. 5. Jacob s hand was on his brother s heel to prevent the heel of his adversary from crushing his head. 6. If Jacob is killed, then there is no Israel! Who would want to get rid of Israel? Page 3 of 10

4 THE HIDDEN ONES (Part 2) B. Hand On Heel Why? (cont.) I have loved you, says the LORD. Yet you say, In what way have You loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? says the LORD. Yet Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated, and laid waste his mountains and his heritage for the jackals of the wilderness. - Malachi 1:2-3 (NKJV) 1. After losing blessing, Esau determines to kill Jacob (Gen. 27:41) forcing Jacob to flee Canaan. 2. Esau goes to Ishmael and takes a third wife from among his uncle s daughters. 3. Her name is Mahalath (Gen. 28:9). We will deal with this marital arrangement in more detail later. C. Born Again As Israel 1. When Jacob returns to encounter his brother it is with a family and much wealth. 2. On eve of the meeting, Jacob divides his assembly into two groups. Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him. So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. And he said, If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape. Then Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the LORD who said to me, Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. - Genesis 32:6-10 (NKJV) 3. He did this in order that at least one group would escape if Esau attacked. 4. He later divided his children among the wives and the maidservants putting Rachel and Joseph at the rear acharon - last (Gen. 33:2). 5. When he is alone and struggles with a man with the face of God. 6. Jacob and the Man wrestle with one another until the breaking of the day. 7. Jacob refuses to let go until the Man consents to bless Jacob. 8. The man asked Jacob a question: What is your name? 9. Jacob replied, Ya akov or hand on the heel. 10. The implications of his answer are thus: Page 4 of 10

5 As Ya akov, I am the one who was born under the heel of my adversary. Consequently, I am the one who is destined to always walk under the threat of my enemy, always having to protect my head from his heel. 11. The Man answered him: Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed - Genesis 32:28 (NKJV) 12. The implication of this statement is that: As Israel, you are no longer destined to have your head beneath the heel of your enemy. Because you have encountered God, you are going to walk differently and, as a consequence, prevail over your enemy. Instead of being trapped beneath their heel, your heel is going to be on their head! 13. As the day was breaking Jacob encountered God (Gen. 32:30). 14. Was given a new walk, a new name and a new destiny. 15. He was born again as Israel. D. Israel s Distinctive Walk 1. We learn that those who come to God are born again and as Israel no less. 2. They are born again as His children (Jn. 1:12). 3. As Israel, we are to walk differently that we once had. 4. Scripture teaches us that: The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD - Psalm 37:23 (NKJV) Direct my steps by your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me - Psalm 119:133 (NKJV) 5. Israel is to walk differently and that walk is determined by the LORD. 6. As we walk in obedience, we are empowered to trample on serpents. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. - Psalm 91:13 (NKJV) Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. - Luke 10:19 (NKJV) 7. By keeping Torah, we are authorized to put our heel on the head of the serpent. 8. We can do this because the Messiah has already destroyed the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). 9. Scripture declares that: Page 5 of 10

6 They overcame him (the serpent) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony - Revelation 12:11 (NKJV) 10. Israel is the only God-ordained body authorized to overcome the serpent. 11. This is why it is important for believers to recognize they are part of Israel! 12. It becomes clear why Adversary wants to cut them off from being a nation. 13. Israel is the only nation destined to trample on his head. 14. Those who trust in Messiah and walk according to Torah are greatest threat. 15. Thus Scripture records that: The dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Y shua the Messiah. (Rev. 12:17) III THE CONFEDERACY OF NATIONS A. Edom: Israel s Ancient Adversary So Esau dwelt in Mount Seir. Esau is Edom. - Genesis 36:8 (NKJV) 1. Serpent has always used flesh and blood in an attempt to put them under his heel. 2. As it was in the beginning so it will be at the end of days. 3. Last kingdom of man is two feet, iron mingled with clay (Dan. 2:41-44). 4. Besides ten toes, those feet that last kingdom has a heel. a. This is one last attempt to crush the head of Israel. 5. In the beginning it was Esau who was poised to strike at Israel s head. 6. Esau s descendants continued in this effort. a. In Persia it was a descendant of Esau Haman the Amalekite. b. When Messiah was born, it was Herod the Great an Idumean or Edomite. 7. Esau struck at Israel in the beginning and his descendants throughout history. 8. It seems logical that Esau will be one of Israel s primary antagonists at the end. a. Psalm 83 seems to validate this view. 9. The main confederates against Israel are the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites. 10. Esau went to his uncle s house and took one of his daughters as a wife. 11. Thus, Esau formed an alliance with the house of Ishmael. B. Esau and Ishmael s Common Goal 1. Consider what these two had in common. 2. They both lost what they thought rightfully belonged to them the birthright. 3. Ishmael lost it to Isaac and Esau lost it to Jacob. 4. They saw Israel as the one who stood in the way of their rightful inheritance. 5. They share this sentiment with, if not inherit it from, Satan. 6. It was his desire to be like the Most High but was thrown down from heaven. Page 6 of 10

7 You have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High. - Isaiah 14:13-14 (NKJV) And He said to them, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. - Luke 10:18 (NKJV) 7. Since then he has been trying to reclaim what, in his mind, belongs to him. 8. Ishmael and Esau seek to regain an inheritance they consider to have been stolen. 9. Leading the charge in Israel s destruction will be Esau and Ishmael. 10. With few exceptions, most of the other nations are related to Edom or Ishmael. Page 7 of 10

8 THE HIDDEN ONES (Part 3) C. The Edom - Ishamel Alliance 1. Another thing they share is Mahalath, Ishmael s daughter and Esau s third wife. 2. This created a marital alliance of sorts between the two peoples. 3. There is more to be gleaned from this union hinted at by the name Mahalath. 4. This name means sickness or disease and comes from the root chalah. 5. The word chalah is related to the Hebrew word chalal profane. 6. Also related to the word alah or curse. 7. Esau joins himself to Ishmael father of Arabs - and takes from him: a. A disease, profane in nature, which results in a curse (pronounced alah). 8. This certainly seems to be prophetic and describes the situation in our day. IV THE HIDDEN PROPHECY A. A Hidden Prophecy? 1. Psalm 83 lists the ancient nations who are currently trying to destroy Israel. 2. Those trying to destroy Israel today descended from people who tried long ago. 3. Chief among them are the offspring of Esau and Ishmael. 4. There is another component that is important to understand. 5. The Psalm tells us that: They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted together against your sheltered ones. Psalm 83:3 (NKJV) 6. In other translations, sheltered ones is treasured ones or precious ones. 7. The Hebrew phrase used is tzefunekha and is literally your hidden ones. a. This is how it is translated in KJV. 8. What do things sheltered and those considered to be treasure have in common? 9. Treasure is typically hidden or concealed and thus protected. 10. Hidden is what the root word tzafan means. 11. This root word is the same from which we get the name Zaphnat Paneach. 12. This was name conferred upon Joseph Pharaoh that concealed his true identity. 13. Zaphnat Paneach was hidden by God in Egypt, the most powerful nation. 14. He was hidden so that all Israel might be saved. B. Who Are The Hidden Ones? 1. What does Esau, Ishmael and the hidden ones of Israel have to do with us? 2. For the most part, our Jewish brethren are not hidden most know who they are. a. If you know what to look for, they are easily found. b. Hitler found 6 million. Page 8 of 10

9 3. Consider that most believers do not recognize that we were born again as Israel. 4. To see ourselves as Israel has been hidden from us and most everybody else. 5. That we are part of Israel is how Father sees it and the way the Adversary sees it. 6. You are his sworn enemy and he wants to crush your head. 7. Might he use Esau and Ishmael in this endeavor? 8. Enemies of Israel (particularly those listed in Ps. 83) have come to understand. 9. It is almost impossible to destroy Israel without first neutralizing big Satan. 10. Is it the US that Satan wishes to destroy or a particular group within the US? C. Two Companies 1. The Body has been hidden throughout the world. 2. Like Joseph, many have congregated in the most powerful nation on earth. 3. I believe for this purpose: so that all Israel might be saved. 4. Is it possible we have been hidden because, if Esau and Ishmael had known who we really are, they would have tried to destroy us before now? 5. Might this be one of the reasons there are two groups - Jew and Christian? 6. One night before Jacob met Esau, he divided his assembly into two companies. 7. His reasoning: if one is found, the other will escape. 8. He placed Rachel and Joseph at the rear acharon - at the end. 9. Acharon is also used to denote end of days. 10. The implication is Joseph will be the last of Israel s sons to combat Esau. a. Joseph was hidden in Egypt. 11. Psalm 83 is a psalm of Asaph 12. Asaph to take away as in taken away my reproach at the birth of Joseph. 13. Also gathering, assembly and is related to aciph ingathering. 14. This is also related to Yosef to add - or Joseph. 15. It is a psalm of gathering or assembling two coming together? D. The Coming War With Esau 1. Confederation of Edom, Ishmael and other nations will attempt to destroy Israel. 2. That includes the hidden ones Joseph. 3. The sons of Ishmael and Esau have vowed to destroy Israel and the U.S. a. They consult together against them. 4. Usama bin Ladin and others are actively following through on this threat. 5. They readily group Jews and Christians (crusaders) into same category. 6. The Adversary understands there is more to Israel than what he first thought. 7. We are coming into the 3 rd day and hidden ones are being revealed (Rom. 8). 8. Esau and Ishmael will not succeed in destroying Israel. 9. To the contrary, Israel is destined to place her heel on the head of her enemy. 10. Many prophecies indicate that the companies will come together and defeat their common enemies. Page 9 of 10

10 But they shall fly down upon the shoulder of the Philistines toward the west; together they shall plunder the people of the East; they shall lay their hand on Edom and Moab; And the people of Ammon shall obey them. - Isaiah 11:14 (NKJV) Oh, how Esau shall be searched out! How his hidden treasures shall be sought after! All the men in your confederacy shall force you to the border; the men at peace with you shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it. - Obadiah 6-7 (NKJV) For violence against your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.... The house of Jacob shall be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; but the house of Esau shall be stubble. They shall kindle them and devour them, and no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau, for the LORD has spoken. - Obadiah 10, 18 (NKJV) 11. The ultimate victory will come, not by bullets and bombs, but by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony because the Messiah has already overcome. Page 10 of 10