Musing – Since when has Israel been home for the Jews?

Hebraic Musing – Since when has Israel been home for the Jews?

Our recent Torah study looked at three of Israel's leaders preparing to sleep and looking to the future of the land. From Genesis 47:29–30   When the time drew near for Israel (a.k.a. Jacob) to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, "If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I rest with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried."  NIV   Notice that Jacob (Israel) wanted to be buried at home, not in Egypt, because he foresaw that since his children were getting so comfortable in Egypt they could easily forget that Israel was their true home, their promised land.

Likewise, Jacob’s son Joseph died in Egypt and was embalmed, but he too had asked that when the family of Israel left Egypt that they take his bones him with them. Joseph also wanted to return home.

When the time drew near for King David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.   "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man,  and observe what the Lord your God requires: .... that the Lord may keep his promise to me: 'If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'” 1 Kings 2:1-4   David clearly foresaw that his people had the right to have rule over their land, Israel, forever.

On Jewish Heritage Day in 2010, Helen Thomas, a member of the White House press corps, was caught off camera saying that the Jews should “get the hell out of Palestine” and “go home to Germany and Poland.”  She should have known her history better, but the anti-Semitic flavor of even high level leaders demonstrates the lack of knowledge and appreciation of Israel’s history in the land of Israel.  BTW, does the word Israel refer to country or the man?

The Cave of Machpelah (Tomb of the Patriarchs) where Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca and Leah are all buried lies just 25 miles south of Jerusalem. The only matriarch missing is Rachel who was buried near Bethlehem when she died giving birth. The Tomb of the Patriarchs, and matriarchs, is an everlasting testimony to the fact that Israel is home to the children of Israel (Jacob’s other name). It always has been and it always will be.  

We need to tirelessly share this truth with the world.

Point to ponder

Is there any people group that existed before Jacob (a.k.a. Israel)
that can lay claim to the land of Israel and Jerusalem?
(Consider that Jacob made Israel home for himself and his family in 1700BC)

And in circa 1015BC David called for an Israelite king
to be on the throne in Jerusalem, forever.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; and for Irene and I.  We will be there next week!

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                                             December 24, 2013

Author of two books “Hebraic Insights” and  “Biblical Marriage”

And weekly e-mails “Hebraic Musings”  Yosef1@cox.net  or  www.InsightsByYosef.com