Is a Knowledge of Your Heritage Really Important in Our Day?

Prophetic Insights: Seeing Events From Heaven's Throne Room

Is a Knowledge of Your Heritage Really Important in Our Day?

by Angus Wootten

Shalom

    The mission of the Messianic Israel Alliance (MIA) is to equip the people of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to accomplish the restoration of all things. We know that the fulness of the restoration of all things will occur when the new Jerusalem comes down from heaven. Then the tabernacle of our God will be among His people. He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people (Rev 21:1-3).

    Our question is, what can we do in our generation to fulfill, or at least make significant strides towards fulfillment of this goal? Thankfully we have the lessons of history from the 99 generations from Noah, which have preceded our generation to guide us. But most importantly we have the good fortune to live in the time when the regathering of the people of Israel is taking place.

    We are seeing the tents of Judah coming up first (Zec 12:7). Some six million have returned to the land. And we Messianic forerunners are actually part of this second exodus as we participate in the gathering of the tents of Joseph/Ephraim for their return.

    To insure that we are fully prepared to be used by YHVH in gathering the remnant of His flock out of all the countries where He had driven them and bring them back to their own soil (Jer 23:2-8), let us take a look at the First Exodus.

    Was it important, when Jacob went down to Egypt and joined Joseph, for his descendants to remember their heritage?

    "All the persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy in number, but Joseph was already in Egypt. Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them" (Exodus 1:5-7).

    If these sons of Israel had been integrated into Egyptian society and no longer remember their heritage, would the exodus from Egypt some 400 hundred year later have occurred?

    The answer if not an emphatic no!, is a the very least, not likely. So how can we reasonably expect a second exodus in our day when the sons of Israel, especially Ephraimites, have been scattered throughout the world and integrated into every nation, tribe tongue and kindred. They have forgotten their heritage, and for the most part no longer remember who they are!

    YHVH is well aware of this challenge.

    "Those of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, And their heart shall rejoice as if with wine. Yes, their children shall see it and be glad; Their heart shall rejoice in Me. I will whistle for them and gather them, For I will redeem them; and they shall increase as they once increased. I will sow them among the peoples, and they shall remember Me in far countries; They shall live, together with their children, and they shall return" (Zechariah 10:1-9).

    The key to the fulfillment of this prophecy is fulfilling, "and they shall remember Me in far countries." The word shall is speaking of something that is going to take place in the future. To fulfill this prophecy given in the book of Zachariah, which was written during the period of 480 B.C. - 520 B.C., several things have to take place.

    1. The people of Ephraim had to be scattered among the nations.

    We have surely seen that take place (Deu 30:3-4; Ezek 34:6; 36:19; Zec 7:14; John 11:52).

    2. They had to be redeemed.

    Surely Christianity has redeemed many, by affording people whose punishment for a period of time was they were not to be a people, therefore many did not remember their heritage, or fully understand that they were citizens of the Commonwealth of Israel. However, over the centuries and in our day, many established a personal relationship with Israel's Messiah (Hosea 1:9-10; Ephesians 2:12-19; Galatians 3:29).

    3. The numbers of people who will remember YHVH and understand that they are part of the people of Ephraim needs to be increased for Ephraim to once again be a mighty man. .

    Half of the people that have ever lived on this planet are alive today. And of the 6.3 billion people some 2.5 billion claim some sort of relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Quite an increase. Also, in a way a potential fulfillment of Moses's prophecy when he spoke to the 2.5 million Israelites preparing to cross the Jordan into the promised land, "May the LORD, the God of your fathers, increase you a thousand-fold more than you are and bless you, just as He has promised you!" (Deu 1:11). A thousand times 2.5 million is 2.5 billion.

    4. They shall remember Me while they are in far countries.

    "I will leave a remnant, for you will have those who escaped the sword among the nations when you are scattered among the countries. Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations to which they will be carried captive" (Ezek 6:8-9).

    "When I scatter them among the peoples, They will remember Me in far countries, And they with their children will live and come back." (Zec 10:9).

    5. Ephraim has to become a mighty man.

    "Ephraim will be like a mighty man....and they will be as numerous as they were before" (Zec 10:8).

    6. YHVH will whistle for Ephraim and he will return to the Land.

    "I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel"   (Ezek 11:17).

    Jeremiah outlines how this will take place by replacing bad shepherds [dividers] with good shepherds [uniters]....As the LORD lives, who brought up and led back the descendants of the household of Israel from the north land and from all the countries where I had driven them.' Then they will live on their own soil" (Jer 23:1-8; 31:10).

    "I will whistle for them to gather them together" (Zec 10:-8).

    Conclusion

   We can say that to a large extent items one, two and three have, or, are taking place. Item four, They shall remember me seems to be the key for the fulfilment of items five and six. The existence of the Messianic Israel and Hebrew roots movement is evidence that this remembrance is currently taking place. However, it is only reasonable to assume that YHVH will not whistle for Ephraim to be a mighty man until sufficient Ephraimites have remembered who they are, and added to those currently aware of their identity and prepared to answer the call of the whistle.

    How are these additional Ephraimites going to be awakened to their identity? Common sense says, "Is it not reasonable to anticipate in a manner like the ones who have already come to a knowledge of their heritage?" Lost sheep who have been given verbal or written information regarding their lost heritage and received confirmation through the Ruach Ha Kodesh. Are not these the ones YHVH is expecting to be messengers with beautiful feet and serve as heralds to preach the good news? (Romans 10:15).

    If you believe that you are one of those messengers, then we encourage you to exercise the talents you have been given and take full advantage of opportunities you are given to be an active and effective herald. Thus running your race in a manner pleasing to YHVH, and therefore worthy to receive the accolade, "Good and faithful servant well done."

    Like Paul, and all the messengers that have gone before us, we are face with the challenge that the people we are trying to reach are for the most part aptly described by Isaiah, "people who will keep on hearing, but will not understand; and keep on seeing, but will not perceive;for the heart of this people has become dull, and with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart and return" (Acts 28:25-27).

    Quite naturally, there are a variety of ways and methods of providing lost sheep with the knowledge that will help encourage them to remember their heritage. Key of David Publishing Books and materials have over the past thirty years been a great help in providing messengers with material and tools to accomplish this task of remembrance. The latests additions to the arsenal are, Who Is Israel? Redeemed Israel - A Primer, and the CD Album The Return. Both are proving to be extremely effective.

    You may review a complete list of Key of David books and materials at
kodpublishing.com

Your thoughts and comments.

This is a team effort, so we would like to hear your thoughts and comments. To share them, go to ZechariahsPatrol.com. Click on the title of the report you would like to comment on, then go to the end of the message. There, you can post your comments and review comments made by others. And if your comments contain questions we will answer them.

The Return is a profoundly unique album sung by Will Spires with many of the songs written by Batya Wootten. People who long to return to the Holy One as a reunited and restored House of Israel will find these songs are truly about our faith, about our walk in Messiah, and about our Father's awesome promises to us. Some are inspiring songs of encouragement, some make you want to dance, and some are so worship-filled that they will bring you to tears. Each one is unique and beautiful in its own way.

The song titles on the album are: I Am YHWH, Awake and Sing, Ezekiel 37 Reading, Road to Zion, High Plains Drifter Benediction, LeMoedim, HaKol Shel Abba, Everyday Mercy, The Return, Who Are These, Firstborn Redeemer, Light Bringer's Blessing.

To watch a spiritual moving video of I Am YHVH click

I AM YHVH

For the intriging story on how this collection of songs came to be see A Song of the Lord - The Birth of an Album by Batya Ruth Wootten

You can hear clips of all of the songs, order CDs, the 20 page booklet that has the words to the songs, and/or download individual songs with a print-out of the words at kodpublishing.com

At the recent MIA boot camp we offered a Special: A copy of The Return CD, a 20 page booklet that has the words to the songs, plus a copy of the book, Who Is Israel? Redeemed Israel - A Primer, all for $15. Now, we are making this same offer available on line throughout the month of July.

This album, like the book, Who Is Israel? Redeemed Israel - A Primer, is an excellent resource to reach people and encourage them to investigate their heritage.

To order the CD, the book of the words to the songs, and/or to download individual songs with a print out of the words to the songs go to kodpublishing.com, or call 407-344-7700.