JAPHETH AND ISRAEL
JAPHETH AND ISRAEL
Many Christians pick and choose their “feel good” verses….only verses of God’s love and blessing. But we need to read the entire Word of God to know Our God; not only His Love and Grace, but also Hi Justice, Laws, and Might!
We need to read the entire Bible over and over, prayerfully, to understand the great Plan that God has for us and for His chosen people, our brothers and sisters in our Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
In the ninth chapter of Genesis, after the flood, when Noah was drunk, his sons reacted in various ways (Genesis 9:18-29) Ham acted disrespectfully, while Shem and Japheth acted with respect.
After the incident, Noah responded with a prophesying prayer for each of his sons. (Genesis 9:25-27)
which was this:
“And he said, cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.
God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant.”
It is very interesting that he cursed Ham’s son Canaan instead of Ham. It doesn’t make it clear why this is, or if Canaan had any part in the event or not, but, more important to us are the prophesies that follow.
Shem is the son who is the ancestor of the Jewish people, the line from which Jesus came, the chosen people of God. Noah prayed and prophesied that Shem would be blessed, but, instead of blessing Shem, he blessed the Lord God of Shem, indicating that the Jewish Nation will be blessed as long as they stay within the blessings of God by obedience and devotion. He was praising God for His salvation of the Chosen People, the Jews, after their eyes are opened in the end of time, which, I am sure, the Lord was showing Noah at the time.
Japheth became the line of Europeans, Scandinavians, and related peoples that spread throughout Europe and later the western world. They inhabit a great area, and a variety of peoples, as the prophesy of Noah said in verse 27 that God would enlarge Japhath.
We know that, of the two that are spoken of in the later verses (Shem and Japheth) the descendants of Japheth became the bulk of the Christian people throughout the world. Shem, of course is the ancestor of the Jewish people both in Israel and throughout the world.
Because of the respectful attitude these two sons took, they were both blessed by their father, but it is the character of the blessings that reflect the Great plan of God as described in the Bible for all of mankind.
Just as Noah made the blessings of Shem clear, if his descendants stayed with their God, there was also a condition for his brother Japheth’s blessings. His blessing came with the condition that he dwell in the tents of Shem in order to receive the protection and blessing of God (v 27). This is very significant for us today.
The Bible makes it clear that we only have a chance at receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour because of the Jewish people. God has blinded them for a time, concerning the Gospel, until the time of the Gentile be fulfilled. (Luke 21:24).
We were “grafted” into the Vine of the Jewish relationship with God, and therefore, with Jesus Christ, as He is the Vine, and we are the branches (John Chapter 15). Paul explains this temporary blinding of the chosen people in Romans 11:11-18:
“I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid; but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.”
In these dark times, when the Nation of Israel is in such peril, we, as Christians, need to show that we understand God’s plan for salvation, and our relationship to the Jewish people.
We need to understand, explain, and act forth the knowledge that without the chosen people, we would not have a chance at salvation. Jesus told us that “salvation is of the Jews” in John 4:22.
Again, we are told to pray for Jerusalem in Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Notice, the promise in this psalm of spiritual prosperity connected with our loving Jerusalem!
Romans 11:26-28 goes on:
“And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father’s sakes.” (meaning that they don’t accept Jesus Christ as Saviour now, because they have been blinded by God for our sakes, but they share “the election” with us, because they are the chosen people, and their eyes will be opened and together, we will all be the elect, for the Glory of Our Wonderful God!!!)
Romans chapter 11, from which I quoted portions above, explains it well, but there is no one chapter, verse, or phrase which will show us the entire and Great Plan of God along with His Mighty and Flawless Justice. It is woven throughout the entire Word of God in such away that only those who have a heart for the Lord will be able to understand through the Holy Spirit. This is true of understanding the heart of God, Salvation, and our spiritual connection with His chosen people.
In Genesis 12:3 God told Abraham (and through him, all the chosen people) that their enemies will be His enemies.
Genesis 12:3: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.”
Christians today need to heed these warnings and teachings, and not fall for the politics prevailing in these dark days, as many are turning against Israel. It is described in Revelations that all nations will turn against Israel, but we need to listen to Our Lord and stand with His chosen people because HE COMMANDS IT, and we want to obey everything in His Word.
Besides that, there is a price He promised for disobedience to that command. If we don’t cling to His people as brothers and sisters in Him, he promises we will become HIS ENEMY!!!
And, make no mistake about it…….
Hebrews 10:31— “IT IS A FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.”
Live in the Light of Our Lord 