Do you know Jesus? Part 4 | YHWHchosen.com

Most of the Old Testament deals with one particular people— those of God's people, the children of Israel.

The children of Israel, that is all twelve tribes of the children of Israel, eventually were cast into foreign lands for breaking God's Law by worshiping false gods and mingling with other peoples of the lands and learning their sinful behaviors of idol worship and other abominations.

The breaking or the transgression of God's Holy law is known as "Sin."

This key element of the Old Testament is the reoccurring theme of salvation for the children of Israel.

"Salvation" means to be saved or delivered as the Hebrew definition says, “from desolating evil or destruction.”

To know Jesus, one must learn about the 12 tribes of ISRAEL

The Biblical story of Israel is one where God (YHWH) chose Israel to be “a people” blessed above all other peoples.

Deuteronomy 4:37-40 (KJV)
And because He loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; [38] To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. [39] Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that YHWH [the LORD] he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. [40] Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which YHWH [the LORD] thy God giveth thee, for ever.

Deuteronomy 7:1-11 (KJV)
When YHWH [the LORD] thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; [2] And when YHWH [the LORD] thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: [3] Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. [4] For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of YHWH [the LORD] be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. [5] But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. [6] For thou art an holy people unto YHWH [the LORD] thy God: YHWH [the LORD] thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [7] YHWH [the LORD] did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because YHWH [the LORD] loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath YHWH [the LORD] brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. [9] Know therefore that YHWH [the LORD] thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; [10] And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. [11] Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.

And GOD would make a covenant with the children of Israel (house of Jacob) because of former promises GOD made to Israel, or Jacob’s descendants, Isaac, and his father Abraham.

Exodus 19:1-6 (KJV)
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. [2] For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. [3] And Moses went up unto God, and YHWH [the LORD] called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: [6] And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

Leviticus 20:24 (KJV)
But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am YHWH [the LORD] your God, which have separated you from other people.

Leviticus 20:26 (KJV)
And ye shall be holy unto me: for I YHWH [the LORD] am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

God made a promise and covenant to Abraham and His Seed that HE would be their God, and that they would inherit a goodly land, and be multiplied as the dust of earth that no man could number.

Genesis 13:14-17 (KJV)
And YHWH [the LORD] said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: [15] For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. [16] And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. [17] Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.

Psalm 105:42 (KJV)
For He remembered His holy promise, and Abraham His servant.

Genesis 17:1-8 (KJV)
And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, YHWH [the LORD] appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. [2] And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. [3] And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, [4] As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. [5] Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. [6] And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. [7] And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. [8] And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Later God made another covenant with the children of the offspring of Abraham’s son Isaac, who God said His seed would be “called."

Genesis 21:12 (KJV)
And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

Isaac had a son named Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel.

Genesis 32:28 (KJV)
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

It was the children of Israel that God delivered them out of Egyptian bondage by His many miracles or plagues on Pharaoh and delivered from the death of the passover.

Exodus 12:21-28 (KJV)
Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. [22] And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. [23] For YHWH [the LORD] will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, YHWH [the LORD] will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. [24] And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. [25] And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which YHWH [the LORD] will give you, according as He hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. [26] And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? [27] That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the YHWH [the LORD]'s passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. [28] And the children of Israel went away, and did as YHWH [the LORD] had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

It was a three days journey later that God delivered the children of Israel out of the hands of the Egyptians to salvation passing the through the Red sea.

Exodus 14:13-18 (KJV)
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of YHWH [the LORD], which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. [14] YHWH [the LORD] shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
[15] And YHWH [the LORD] said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward: [16] But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. [17] And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them: and I will get me honour upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. [18] And the Egyptians shall know that I am YHWH [the LORD], when I have gotten me honour upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen.

It was to the children of Israel that GOD gave His law at Mount Sinai.

The children of Israel now had been delivered and were given a law and a GOD to serve, but the children of Israel disobeyed and broke the law and God's commandments and statutes and made league with inhabitants of the other lands, eventually sinning greatly against God, forsaking YHWH, Their God.

Judges 2:1-5 (KJV)
And an angel of YHWH [the LORD] came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. [2] And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? [3] Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. [4] And it came to pass, when the angel of YHWH [the LORD] spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. [5] And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto YHWH [the LORD].

The peoples continual sinning causes YHWH to exact Judgments and punishments on Israel. Later the twelve tribes of Israel, who were of the offspring of the 12 sons of Jacob, become divided into two houses and then each house separately was cast away out of God’s sight.

This first kingdom, or the house of Israel, was cast away during the time of the Assyrian Captivity, (c 722 B.C.), where the ten tribes of Israel in Samaria were taken away, not to return to their land.

2nd Kings 17:6-23 (KJV)
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. [7] For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned against YHWH [the LORD] their God, which had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods, [8] And walked in the statutes of the heathen, whom YHWH [the LORD] cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made. [9] And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against YHWH [the LORD] their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. [10] And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree: [11] And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom YHWH [the LORD] carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke YHWH [the LORD] to anger: [12] For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing. [13] Yet YHWH [the LORD] testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. [14] Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in YHWH [the LORD] their God. [15] And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom YHWH [the LORD] had charged them, that they should not do like them. [16] And they left all the commandments of YHWH [the LORD] their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. [17] And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of YHWH [the LORD] , to provoke him to anger. [18] Therefore YHWH [the LORD] was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. [19] Also Judah kept not the commandments of YHWH [the LORD] their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. [20] And YHWH [the LORD] rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. [21] For He rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drave Israel from following the Lord, and made them sin a great sin. [22] For the children of Israel walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they departed not from them; [23] Until YHWH [the LORD] removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.

But God kept a remnant of His people both visible and hidden in the Gentiles, or heathen, or amongst "the nations" where YHWH cast away His people to serve their new masters, learning foreign languages, foreign ideas and new cultures.

2nd Kings 19:30-31 (KJV)
And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. [31] For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of YHWH [the LORD] of hosts shall do this.

The ten tribes of Jacob or Israel (the northern house of Israel) were no more a people, instead they were under the judgment of GOD and were lost, without a savior to redeem them.

Hosea 1:9-10 (KJV)
Then said God, Call his name Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your God.
[10] Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.

Hosea 2:23 (KJV)
And I will sow her unto me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not my people, Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.

There was a second Captivity (c 585 B.C.) of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin (of the house of Judah). These were taken away into Babylonian captivity by the Chaldeans for 70 years.

2nd Chronicles 36:11-23 (KJV)
Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. [12] And he did that which was evil in the sight of YHWH [the LORD] his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of YHWH [the LORD]. [13] And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto YHWH [the LORD] God of Israel.
[14] Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of YHWH [the LORD] which He had hallowed in Jerusalem. [15] And YHWH [the LORD] God of their fathers sent to them by His messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: [16] But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of YHWH [the LORD] arose against his people, till there was no remedy. [17] Therefore He brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: He gave them all into his hand. [18] And all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of YHWH [the LORD], and the treasures of the king, and of his princes; all these he brought to Babylon. [19] And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. [20] And them that had escaped from the sword carried he away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia: [21] To fulfil the word of YHWH [the LORD] by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years.
[22] Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of YHWH [the LORD] spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished,YHWH [the LORD] stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, [23] Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath YHWH [the LORD] God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.

The remnant of Israel that was to return to the land was only a small remnant (42,360) to return to Jerusalem and the land of Israel.

Nehemiah 7:66-69 (KJV)
The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, [67] Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women. [68] Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: [69] Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.

Only those of tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi (the house of Judah) returned to the land to rebuild Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:3-6 (KJV)
Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of YHWH (the LORD) God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. [4] And whosoever remaineth in any place where he sojourneth, let the men of his place help him with silver, and with gold, and with goods, and with beasts, beside the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.
[5] Then rose up the chief of the fathers of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests, and the Levites, with all them whose spirit God had raised, to go up to build the house of YHWH ( the LORD) which is in Jerusalem. [6] And all they that were about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with beasts, and with precious things, beside all that was willingly offered.

Ezra 10:5-14 (KJV)
Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all Israel, to swear that they should do according to this word. And they sware.
[6] Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God, and went into the chamber of Johanan the son of Eliashib: and when he came thither, he did eat no bread, nor drink water: for he mourned because of the transgression of them that had been carried away. [7] And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the children of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem; [8] And that whosoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.
[9] Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered themselves together unto Jerusalem within three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month; and all the people sat in the street of the house of God, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain. [10] And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel. [11] Now therefore make confession unto YHWH ( the LORD) God of your fathers, and do his pleasure: and separate yourselves from the people of the land, and from the strange wives. [12] Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do. [13] But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand without, neither is this a work of one day or two: for we are many that have transgressed in this thing. [14] Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.

God ensured there was a visible remnant left who would have the duty to keep his law and continue the traditions, cultures, and wait on the coming redeemer, for God had a plan to save the 12 tribes of Israel who were trodden down and cast away by the wrath of GOD, For God had mercy on His people for HIS great name sake and promises made to their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Isaiah 8:11-18 (KJV)
For YHWH ( the LORD) spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, [12] Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. [13] Sanctify YHWH ( the LORD) of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. [14] And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. [15] And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. [16] Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. [17] And I will wait upon YHWH ( the LORD), that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. [18] Behold, I and the children whom YHWH ( the LORD) hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from YHWH ( the LORD) of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

This Redeemer is the promised Seed of Abraham who will save Israel from her sin. This is the Anointed one, the Holy One of God and called of God —the Messiah.

Daniel 9:20-27 (KJV)
And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before YHWH [the LORD] my God for the holy mountain of my God; [21] Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. [22] And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. [23] At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. [24] Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. [27] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

The Messiah was to come at an appointed time by GOD to redeem His people Israel. It was at this time we have the entrance of the Christ —another word meaning the Messiah.

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