2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
Grand Design of Separation – Noah and the Flood
Mankind’s sins multiplied as man’s population rose and he continued to be bent on evil. Mankind had become so evil, so degenerate that GOD initiated another stage of the Grand Design of Separation to reconcile Mankind to HIMSELF.
This stage included the destruction of the first generation of Mankind and the re-population of the Planet Earth from a remnant of eight (8) people who were selected by GOD to survive the Flood; Noah, his wife, his three sons and their wives. From this group the new generation of Mankind was revived.
Grand Design of Separation – Abraham, Sarah and Issac
The world had changed, after the flood, for the worse. Once again Mankind became exceedingly evil and began serving pagan gods. They had lost all knowledge of the true GOD or discounted it and began devising their own gods based on nature. Worshipping the creature instead of the Creator.a
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
But Abram (Abraham) was different and he heard GOD’S voice. GOD had selected Abram because he was a just man who sought the true GOD. GOD, according to HIS Grand Design, continued the process to create a separate people for HIMSELF; HIS Congregation; HIS Church; a nation of people who would live in obedience to HIM as a Holy people and teach GOD’S Ways to the others (pagans or Gentles) in the World.
He began with separating Abram from the pagan people around him. HE promised Abram HE would give him land for himself and his descendants in addition to other things he needed if he was obedient and remained Faithful to HIM. HE made a Covenant with Abram which is a contract. (See GOD AND CHRIST IN THE COVENANTS BLOG for information about the Abrahamic Covenant and all of the other Covenants of the Bible.)
Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham, is the Father of the Jewish people and many other nations of Mankind including the Spiritual Church under the Kingdom of Light. GOD made a Covenant with Abraham to be the progenitor of a nation that would follow GOD’S Commandments, walk in HIS ways, and continue the lineage for the Messiah. Abraham and his wife Sarah, being aged, (past ninety) did not, as yet, have any children but GOD promised them a son and to Abraham he also promised he would be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations.
Gen 17:5 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.
Gen 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
However, Abraham and Sarah had Faith and trusted GOD; they soon gave birth to a child; a son. After he reached the age of 100 years old, and his wife, Sarah, being 90 years old, gave birth to a son. The name of Abraham’s son was Issac. This was the beginning of building a nation of people who would serve GOD and keep HIS Commandments.
GOD knew Abraham and knew he would be righteous, follow GOD’S Commandments and teach them to his family, beginning with the token or sign of the Covenant, the circumcision. Gen 18:19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Gen 17:11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.
Jacob (Israel) and Esau
Abraham had the promised child (Issac) who would beget the next generation and the beginning of a nation (who would beget the Messiah as promised in Genesis 3:15); they would be in number as the number of stars in the sky and sand of the sea. Through this child (Issac) two sons were born (twins) Esau and Jacob.There is an exposition of these two individuals in the Case Studies section of this Blog.
Twelve (12) Tribes of Israel
Through Jacob 12 sons were born (the Patriarchal Fathers) and this began the 12 tribes or the nation of Israel. GOD changed his name from Jacob to Israel after the Covenant was made between Israel (Jacob) and GOD. These twelve men had children and Jacob’s family multiplied.
Gen 32:28 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.
1Ki 18:31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
Jacob had a young son (Joseph) whom he favored and openly demonstrated it which always causes conflict in a family.
Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.
The sibling jealousy and envy became unbearable to the older brothers and they feign Joseph’s death. In actuality they had sold their younger brother into slavery and the merchants/slave traders took him to Egypt.
In the Grand Design this enabled Joseph to undergo experiences (a few unfavorable, but a sliver of GOD’S Will was always evident) which led to Joseph becoming a high official in the court of Pharaoh. At a determinable and acceptable time by GOD, Jacob discovers Joseph is alive and he is invited by Joseph to move his family to Egypt to escape the famine.
Egypt and Bondage in Slavery
Over a period of time, over 400 years, the Israelites multiplied and the Egyptians began to oppress them, killing their newborn males to prevent their numbers from multiplying in such great numbers thus, reducing their fear of a civil uprising. Another eventuality in the Grand Design transpired and Moses was born and raised by a member of Pharaoh’s family.
He fled the country after killing an Egyptian and was later sent back to Egypt, by GOD, to deliver the Israelites from the bondage of slavery, guided by GOD and Miracles that eventually forced Pharaoh to let his people go.
Grand Design of Separation – Mt Sinai
After the stupendous miracle of GOD splitting the Red Sea, Moses led the people across to the other side. Moses then brought the people to Mount Sinai where they were given the 10 Commandment Covenant, orally from GOD. GOD later wrote the Covenant on two (2) tables of stone called the Tables of the Testimony and gave them to Moses. These Commandments called the Covenant was placed in a Ark an especially made container for the stone tablets, called the Ark of the Covenant and Ark of the Testimony.
GOD also gave Moses information which included ordinances and statutes for civil and congregational Life and “Temple” ordinances which gave the people the standard by which they were to Live, Worship and be a people of GOD; this was called the Law of Moses. These were placed not inside but by the side of the ARK.
Conditions of the Covenant
Israel’s portion of the Covenant’s was obedience to GOD. When Israel obeyed the Covenant, GOD remained her GOD, as implied in every sense of the word; providing shelter, food, bountiful harvests, and protection from enemies near and far. Basically, it was the same Covenant conditions as were given to Adam and Eve with the exception of the dimensions of geographic area – the “promised land made to Abraham” rather than the entire Earth.
Israel was to demonstrate and teach the LORD’S ways to her children and any stranger (Gentile) that lived among them. GOD gave them feast days, festivals, special sabbaths, and other observances to engender HIS ways to every generation of Israel.
Deu 6:21 Then thou shalt say unto thy son, We were Pharaoh’s bondmen in Egypt; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand:
Deu 6:22 And the LORD shewed signs and wonders, great and sore, upon Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his household, before our eyes:
Deu 6:23 And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.
Deu 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day.
Deu 6:25 And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Obedience to the Covenant = Blessings and Gain
Obedience to the Covenant equaled reward in Blessings, gain and there were many. GOD promised to keep all of the blessings and promises made initially to Abraham, Issac and Jacob (Israel). God promised to Love Israel, to bless and to multiply the people, a plentiful harvest, and HE promised them prosperity.
Deu 7:12 Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:
Deu 7:13 And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
Deu 7:14 Thou shalt be blessed above all people: there shall not be male or female barren among you, or among your cattle.
Deu 7:15 And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.
Disobedience = Chastisement and Loss
If Israel disobeyed or broke the Covenant, the opposite occurred. They would lose all of their privileges and blessings of the conditional Covenant including having their own land (country), prosperity, GOD’S protection and the identity and inclusion of a people and as a nation on Earth, as GOD’S people.The sin of disobedience and all sin brings the curse of death and dissolution.
Deu 8:19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Deu 8:20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
A Model Nation
Israel was chosen to be a model nation to the World, an illustration of the relationship with The LORD as her King; a depiction of HIS Glorious Law, Commandments, Statutes, Ordinances and Judgments.
Deu 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.
Deu 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.
Deu 4:3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.
Deu 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day.
Deu 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.
Deu 4:6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Deu 4:7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?
Deu 4:8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?
Deu 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons;
Separation From The World
It was imperative that the Israelites retain the Covenant of GOD to prevent their assimilation to the World; to prevent adulteration of GOD’S Laws and HIS Truth; to prevent the pagan World religions of the nations of the World to influence the Israelites; to prevent sinful pollution of themselves and to abstain from defilement of the pagan’s, unlawful, and sinful ways of the World.
Separation of Light and Darkness is a principle demonstrated at Creation (Light from Darkness) and separation from the carnality of the World is a principle of GOD’S Law that was taught to Mankind since the beginning of time (Adam & Eve carnal knowledge); at the formation of the nation of Israel; (separation from the World’s corruption) before the time of CHRIST; during the time of CHRIST, (Spiritual darkness) and afterward which is the present.
But the people observe the World which illicit their participation through lust of the eyes, lust of the mind and the lust of the heart. Then they begin to covet their neighbor’s habits and belongings and then they begin to emulate the people of the World and like them, they begin to love the World which is Spiritual Adultery.
Jas 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
In the process of time and because of their continuous sinning of disobedience and idolatry, Israel was often chastened and placed into captivity as a nation, temporarily losing their land, national identity and status as a nation and suffered the loss of the marvelous conditions of the Covenant; the best and most favorable facet of the Covenant being, THE LORD as their GOD.
A King
GOD blessed Israel with everything a person could desire, but being a stiff necked people with a hardened heart and a carnal mind, the people asked for a human King to emulate the pagan countries around them. It was not long before they began to mimic other behaviors of the pagan countries as well, including idolatry.
1Sa 8:5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
After a long period of warnings without effect, they were chastised for their sins in various curses as determined by the Covenant. Then at a determinable time of chastisement GOD would release them and if the chastening included captivity, GOD returned them to their home and had them rebuild or repair the Temple and gave them an opportunity to live correctly before HIM again. Each time Israel failed due to being stiff-necked, Spiritual adultery, disobedience, idolatry and other sins.
Deu 8:19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
Deu 8:20 As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.
Israel habitually sinned. She failed repeatedly to keep her portion of the Covenant and was visited with dire consequences, such as the loss of the Ark, captivity in a strange land, and suffered the desolation of war that caused suffering and dwindled her population, but GOD always retained a remnant of Israel to honor HIS Covenant of the “promised seed” and the nation(s) with his Covenant holders, Abraham, Issac and Jacob (Israel).
Finally, the chastisements were over and GOD declared it was time for the final Judgment and the “punishment” upon Israel. The difference between the chastisement and punishment is this; with chastisement there may still be a portion of Mercy or Grace; with punishment there is none. The time had finally come for the worse curses of the Covenant. GOD considered long and hard before HE punished Israel for the disobedience and the breaking of the Covenant by finally separating HIMSELF from Israel. HE declared they were no longer HIS people or HIS instrument to spread HIS Gospel.
HEAVEN 