Sunday, May 22, 2011

God's Plan

Our Hebrew fellowship group (Jewish roots of the Christian faith) started a 12 week G-od's Plan Course yesterday and it did not disappoint. 11/2 hours of recorded teaching by Rav Nate, paused often for discussion and questions. Several excellent points including but not limited to:

1) Israel's Dilemma: Israel was not birthed for her own sake. The state of Israel had no concept of who they were before God, especially as they left a life of slavery in Egypt. Israel questions God in Exodus 17:3, "Why now have you brought us up from Egypt to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?" God responds in Exodus 19:3-6....You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." God reestablishes the covenant He made with Abraham.
Israel is established to be a priestly nation to minister to the congregation of nations.

2) Who's a Jew? The descendants of Jacob, also known as "Israel" - "he who struggles with God." Hebrew is one who has crossed over, grafted in to the tree of Israel. Jews must be physically descended from Jacob's 12 sons, a Hebrew is not a ethnic delineation.

Being "Jewish" requires the following:
  1. A genetic basis. Family line is passed down through the Mother.
  2. Cultural practices, including the knowledge, resources, or ability to continue them,
  3. A continuation of traditions. rituals, beliefs or an object passed down within society with origins in the past. 
Had a fascinating discussion about what creates a tribe, genetics and the statistics involved in genealogy.

3)The double entendre the Jews spoke when demanding the release of Barabbas (instead of Jesus -the prisoner that was released instead of Jesus at the Passover feast- His name was Bar Abba, son of the Father. The Jews were crying, "Give us the 'Son of the Father."

Much food for thought with the promise of more to come next week via skype with Rav Nate.

Check out Pebble Crossing for more inspiration. 

2 comments:

Unknown said...

This is good, though I will argue with the "who is a Jew?" Even the Rabbi's argue that one. The first aspect is usually universal, passed down through the mother, BUT even my dear Jewish scholars argue that when it comes to Jew's who claim their ancestry but follow Jesus. And you know me Lisa, I have argued with the Rabbi's who tell me I can't be Jewish since I am a Christian. There is an African tribe that has genetic markers that links them to the Jewish people. Interestingly enough, most if not all the tribe is Christian and hold tightly to their Jewish heritage.

laughinglioness.lisa@gmail.com said...

Wish you had been there, Lillian! It was a great discussion and the teaching is phenomenol! We spent the past 2 yeasr going verse by verse through Genesis and Exodus and now we are getting the culture. It is soo rich!
And I totally can see you arguing with Rabbis! Risposte, baby!