one torah for the one people of the one God, part two

one torah for the one people of the one God 2015 feb 09

Are Gentiles who seek to live like Jews not helping?

Yesterday we saw from history and prophecy, that there are many, perhaps millions or even billions, who might be descended from the ten dispersed tribes of Israel, intermingled among the Gentiles to the four corners of the earth, living as Gentiles and indistinguishable from them at first glance. God’s word to them, is that even though they may have forgotten they are the people of God, He will never forget it:

“For surely I will command,
And will sift the house of Israel among all nations,
As grain is sifted in a sieve;
Yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.” Amo 9:9

But let’s say that this is not the case, and that those Gentiles who are being drawn to Torah are just that, Gentiles with no Israelite roots. It is prophesied of them:

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’” Zec 8:23

Hmmm, ten men from every language of the nations … even that might be prophetic symbolism for the ten tribes among the nations. Be that as it may, and in case it is not, what is the Torah’s relationship to non- native Israelites?

“One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you.” Exo 12:49

“You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.” Lev 24:22

“All who are native-born shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall he do. One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.” Num 15:13-16

“You shall have one law for him who sins unintentionally, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel and for the stranger who dwells among them.” Num 15:29

A “stranger” is in Hebrew, Strong’s H1616, ger, a sojourner, from the primitive root guwr, to sojourn. The ancient Hebrew pictographs are of the gimel, the foot, + the vav, the tent peg, + the resh, the head of a man. The picture being painted is of a man who walks, a traveler, a foreigner, one who is outside his own country. Now perhaps Torah means to make this distinction, that only certain laws – the laws surrounding the above admonitions – are to apply to strangers, while the remaining laws, especially those beginning with some variation of, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them …” are only for the native- born. That would mean examining every command in Torah and placing it in its proper category. But then what are we do with this passage:

“Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law.” Deu 31:12

Even the stranger within the gates is to hear and carefully observe all the words of this law. Webster’s says of “all:”

The whole, entire, total amount, quantity, or extent of; every member or part of; the whole number or sum of.

And since many of the laws of Torah make clear the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, surely what is right and wrong, good and evil, is universally right and wrong, good and evil; and should apply to all mankind.

But there is more …

one torah for the one people of the one God, part three 2015 feb 16
one torah for the one people of the one God, part four 2015 feb 26