I talk a lot about the Hebrew faith. And people have often asked if I am Jewish. I probably would’ve asked that question years ago as well. But there is a concept in the Scriptures that speak of believers as being grafted in. And it is one that many people haven’t taken the time to examine. Being Israel (or Hebrew) has nothing to do your nationality, family lineage, or where you live.
“And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, have been grafted in among them, and came to share in the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. And if you boast, remember: you do not bear the root, but the root bears you.” – Romans 11:17-18
I always thought that was just fancy “church talk” about becoming a believer. I didn’t understand the connection to Israel (and being a Hebrew) that Paul was trying to make.
In the Scriptures, we see the word Hebrew used for the first time with Abraham in Genesis 14. And that word means “one from beyond.” – LINK (H5680)
The word Hebrew comes from the root, Abar, which means “to pass over.” – LINK (H5674). And so we understand that a Hebrew is someone who has passed from death to life. From sin to a life of righteousness through obedience to the Father. From worshipping false idols to the one true Creator. In the Exodus, we see a literal “crossing over” of the Red Sea. We see the angel that “passes over” the obedient children as well.
Yahusha (Jesus) says the same thing about someone who hears and obeys…
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me possesses everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has PASSED FROM death into life.” – John 5:24
So then who is Israel?
According to the Scriptures, being Hebrew is synonymous with being part of Israel. It means that you are part of the family. It has nothing to do with Judaism, which is the religion of the Pharisees that came much later after Abraham. The Israel of the Scriptures cannot be equated with the modern nation-state of Israel either. WHERE you live does not make one Israel, but rather HOW you live!
“For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.” – Romans 9:6
Paul goes on to explain that just because they are of the seed of Abraham does not make them Israel. Those of the flesh are not children of Elohim, but rather the children of the promise are reckoned as the seed!
So if we have “crossed over” and become Israel, what does that mean from a practical standpoint?
- Departing from tradition and following the commands of Elohim (Mark 7:7-9)
- Walking like the Messiah walked (1 John 2:6)
- Loving Yahusha and guarding His commands (John 14:15)
- Becoming set-apart in the truth, just as Yahusha was set-apart (John 17:19)
- Holding fast and enduring to the end (Matthew 24:13)
- Keeping the set-apart days that the Father prescribed (Leviticus 23)
Once you realize the concept of who the Israel of the Bible is, then the rest of the Scriptures open up! Paul tells us the following:
“And so ALL ISRAEL shall be saved, as it has been written, The Deliverer shall come out of Tsyion, and He shall turn away wickedness from Jacob, and this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” – Romans 11:26-27
Paul is quoting Isaiah 59:20-21 in this instance. Yahuah calls His people Israel. It has nothing to do with a plot of land or bloodline. When we accept His High Priest, Yahusha, and make repentance, we are grafted into the family and called Israel.
“For you are all sons of Elohim through belief in Messiah Yahusha.” – Galatians 3:26
“And if you are of Messiah, then you are seed of Abraham, and heirs according to promise.” – Galatians 3:29
We become the spiritual bloodline of Israel, heirs according to the promise!
Did you know that the church was born in Genesis 48? You thought it was Acts 2, right?
“See I am making you fruitful and shall increase you and make of you an assembly of peoples, and give this land to your seed after you as an everlasting possession.” – Genesis 48:4
The word, assembly, is a translation of the Hebrew word, qahal (LINK – H6951). It also means congregation. In the Greek Septuagint, it is translated as ekklesia in Genesis 48:4. That is the same word we translate church from.
What you just witnessed is the same title given to believers from Genesis to Revelation. The Greek word, ekklesia, which is used in the Septuagint many times, is always used in direct relation to Israel. Sometimes the word, sunagógé, is also used. It also means assembly or congregation. From beginning to end there is only one called-out assembly. We call it the church, but Yahuah calls it Israel.
Being Israel is not about a bloodborn right. The Messiah tells the Pharisees the following:
“and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as father.’ For I say to you that Elohim is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” – Matthew 3:9
Prior to this, He is warning them to repent of their sins and the wrath that comes with not bearing good fruit. So becoming a Hebrew (Israel) means crossing over and bearing that fruit.
It means following the commandments like the Sabbath.
It means making the choice to celebrate the Passover and Sukkot and other Appointed Times instead of Christmas and Easter.
It means eating what the Bible calls food.
That is what crossing over means. Rejecting the popular and mainstream culture and returning to the ways of Yahuah. Being a Hebrew (Israel) is NOT becoming a Jew, as some believe. Being a Hebrew is returning to the faith that Jude describes in His epistle:
“…the belief which was once for all delivered to the set-apart ones.” – Jude 3
FAITH IN MOTION 