Who is Israel-09

There are many people who believe and even proclaim that the Jewish people are a pure race dating back to the time of Jacob. As you may recall, they all moved to Goshen in Egypt to survive the famine. Joseph took care of them and made sure that they had food to survive. Some 400 years later, the great Exodus took place as they left Egypt to go into the Promised Land being led by Moses.

Unfortunately they had been influenced by the idolatry of the Egyptians and many had forsaken the only true God. When they left, they were joined by a mixed multitude.

Exodus 12:33  The Egyptians urged the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We will all be dead." :34  So the people took their dough before it was leavened, with their kneading bowls bound up in the clothes on their shoulders. 

After the first Passover and the death of all the firstborn in Egypt, all Egypt wanted them to leave. However, a mixed multitude joined them. They could have been Egyptians, or from any number of countries that had somehow moved into Egypt.

:35  Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing; :36  and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 

:37  Now the sons of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children. :38  A mixed multitude also went up with them, along with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. 

They left in haste but with a large amount of treasure that would prove useful in the building of the Tabernacle later.

:39  They baked the dough which they had brought out of Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened, since they were driven out of Egypt and could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. 

:40  Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. :41  And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. :42  It is a night to be observed for the LORD for having brought them out from the land of Egypt; this night is for the LORD, to be observed by all the sons of Israel throughout their generations,

This Passover is no longer valid, required, or necessary as Jesus being our true Passover Lamb instituted the Lord’s supper as the covenant replacement. More on that in detail at a future date.

This mixed multitude did not end with Exodus. There are three very prominent examples given in the Old Testament than add depth to this mixing. Tamar is our first example. It is unclear from where she came from but this brief example gives a few possible hints.

Genesis 14:5  In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with him, came and defeated the Rephaim in Ashteroth-karnaim and the Zuzim in Ham and the Emim in Shaveh-kiriathaim, :6  and the Horites in their Mount Seir, as far as El-paran, which is by the wilderness. :7  Then they turned back and came to En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and conquered all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, who lived in Hazazon-tamar.

Tamar is both a place a name of the daughter-in-law of Judah whose husband had died. According to the Law, a brother was ordered to take her into his family. This did not happen.

Genesis 38:11  Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house. :12  Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. :13  It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." 

Gen 38:14  So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife. 

Being a wife and having children was very important in these days, sadly it is no longer important today.

Gensis 38:15  When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. :16  So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, "Here now, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?" :17  He said, therefore, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?" :18  He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. :19  Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments. 

She enticed her father-in-law to have sex with her.

Genesis 38:25  It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I am with child by the man to whom these things belong." And she said, "Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?" :26  Judah recognized them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not have relations with her again. :27  It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. :28  Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first." :29  But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named Perez. :30  Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah. 

She gave birth to twins. One of which was Perez. Who was Perez?

Matthew 1:1  The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham: :2  Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers. :3  Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez was the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram. :4  Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon. :5  Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz was the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse.

Tamar thru Perez is in the lineage of Jesus! Not only a deceitful mother of Perez, but shown by God that she is worthy or was used to bring this lineage into plain view.

The other two examples will be covered next week.

More next Saturday.