Reconciliation agreements bring persons together in agreement with each other. If the previous agreement was violated and resulted in separation, then the reconciliation agreement would bring them together again. If the separation was between husband and wife then the reconciliation agreement would result in the renewal of cohabitation between them, destroying the effect of a deed of separation.
Israel entered into a spiritual marriage covenant with Yahovah their God, at Mount Sinai. They agreed to an exclusive relationship with Yahovah through a blood covenant. when they broke His covenant they fell out of favor with Him and their sins separated them from Him. He wants to restore the covenant relationship and has a plan to do.
Yahovah’s Love for Israel, His Chosen People
In Ezekiel 16:8-14 Yahovah speaks of the love that He had for Israel when He entered into covenant with her, saying: “Now when I passed by you, and looked upon you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over you, and covered thy nakedness: yes, I swore unto you, and entered into a covenant with you, says Yahovah Elohim, and you became mine. Then I washed you with water; yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. 10 I clothed you also with broidered work, and dressed you with badgers’ skin, and I girded you about with fine linen, and I covered you with silk. 11 I decked you also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon your hands, and a chain on your neck. 12 And I put a jewel on your forehead, and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.13Thus were you decked with gold and silver; and your raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; you did eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and you were exceeding beautiful, and you did prosper into a kingdom. 14 And your renown (fame and beauty) went forth among the heathen for your beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness (charm, good looks), which I had put upon you, says Yahovah Elohim.
Yahovah promised to make Israel into a holy nation and a kingdom of priests.
Why did Yahovah choose Israel?
Did He have a purpose in mind when He chose her? Some think that God was showing favoritism when He chose Israel for Himself. I think He did this so that the nations of the world would be jealous and desire for Yahovah to be their God because he was powerful. With Yahovah as the God of Israel, she had the reputation of being wise, strong, winning wars and battles. The other nations knew that Israel’s God fought for them and protected them. According to the teachings of the prophets, Amos, Hosea and Isaiah, being chosen by God is not just a privilege, it is also comes with responsibility. So Israel’s responsibility to Yahovah as a holy nation and a kingdom of priests was to worship Yahovah, obey Him fully, keep His covenant and be a light to the nations of the world.
Isaiah 49:6 “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 56:6 Yahovah said: “For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
Isa 42:1,4 Speaking of Yahoshua, the Israel of Yahovah, He said: “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice to the nations . . . He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth.” Isa 42:6-7 “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
The Covenant Yahovah Established with Israel
The Offer
After the children of Israel arrived at Mount Sinai, Yahovah called Moses and gave him an offer to present to Israel. Moses delivered Yahovah’s offer to Israel as instructed, saying:
“You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.‘ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” (Exo 19:4-6 NIV)
Exo 19:8 Israel said yes. “We will do everything Yahovah has said.” (NIV)
In this offer, Yahovah established a meeting of the minds with Israel. This common ground was based on the fact that He supernaturally delivered them out of Egypt’s bondage. He also destroyed their enemy; and brought Israel to Himself with great power and a mighty hand to a place where they enjoyed liberty and safety in His protection. Therefore, they confirmed the truth of His words by their unanimous acceptance of His offer saying, “We will do everything Yahovah has said”.
He then introduced Himself to them. Though Israel witnessed the great and miraculous works they did not know Him. He wanted them to know that He is the one and only true and living God, Yahovah. They saw His awesome power and greatness as He descended on the top of Mount Sinai. He spoke to them from Mount Sinai and they heard His voice showing them that is the living God. He started to give them His covenant verbally, which they vowed to keep. He only got through the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), before the people became afraid to continue listening to His voice, lest they die. They asked Moses to be their representative to Yahovah, and whatever Yahovah says they will do. Yahovah approved their request and gave the covenant to Moses to teach to them.
The Book of the Covenant
On Mount Sinai, Yahovah dictated His covenant to Moses, the representative of the people.Exo 24:4:“Moses then wrote down everything Yahovah had said”.
Moses wrote the covenant in a Book:
The Ten commandment of the covenant: Ex 20: 1-17;
The judgments of the covenant: Ex 21- Ex 22:9
The law of the covenant: Ex 22:10 – Ex 23:33
The sealing of the Book of the Covenant: Ex 24:3 – 8
The Marriage between Yahovah and Israel
Exodus 20:2-6 He said: “I am Yahovah your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, Yahovah your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments”.
Exo 24:7-8 Then he (Moses) took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything Yahovah has said; we will obey.” Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that Yahovah has made with you in accordance with all these words (i.e. four chapters long of) words written in the Book of the Covenant.” (NIV)
Yahovah’s covenant prescribes the conduct of a holy nation. The Book contained His instructions on how to govern themselves according to His judgments, commandments, and laws or statutes which they vowed to keep. The covenant was sealed with blood according to Yahovah’s instructions to Moses.
This was a written Bilateral Covenant. Through the establishment of this Covenant, Yahovah and Israel were married spiritually. He became Israel’s God, and Israel became His people.
This legal document contains the following required elements:
The meeting of the minds between both parties (Ex 19:4)
An offer with consideration of value (Ex 19: 5-6)
Acceptance of the offer (Ex 19:8)
A promise to perform in exchanged for a promise to perform (Ex 19:5-8)
Agreement to the Specific terms of the covenant (Ex 19:8; 24:3,7)
Confirmation of the Covenant in writing on both sides.
Israel: Book of the covenant written in the handwriting of Moses on behalf of Israel.
Yahovah: Tablets of stone and the Law written with the finger of Yahovah.
All elements of the covenant were fulfilled, creating a binding agreement between Yahovah and Israel. The covenant was then sealed in blood. The Book of the Covenant can be found in Torah at Ex 20:1 –Ex 23:33
The sealed Book of the Covenant is Israel’s legal and official copy to keep for their records. And the tablets of stone with the Law are Yahovah’s legal copy to keep for His records. This covenant contains the word they promised to obey fully, the covenant to keep; and the promises Yahovah made to them.
Yahovah had Moses write the words of the Covenant in a book using Moses’ own handwriting because Moses represented the people of Israel before Yahovah at the people’s request. His own handwriting was his signature on behalf of the people of Israel.
At Yahovah’s command Moses taught the commandments, laws and judgments written in the Book of the Covenant to the people of Israel. This way they would hear what Moses heard from Yahovah’s mouth and learn the words of the covenant from Moses.
Exodus 19:5-6 Just as in a physical marriage covenant both the man and the woman vow to enter into an exclusive relationship with each other, in the same way, Israel vowed to enter into an exclusive relationship with Yahovah as their God and they would have no other God before him. And Yahovah vowed: if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
Now Israel is a sanctified and a holy nation unto Yahovah. The nation is now Yahovah’s treasured possession, His bride. At this point Israel is at peace with Yahovah and in good standing with the Holy Elohim.
Tablets of Stone and the Law
Exo 24:12 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give you tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou may teach them”. (KJV)
18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. (Exo 24:18 NIV)
The Sabbath covenant is a sign between Yahovah and Israel forever. By keeping the Sabbath covenant Yahovah makes Israel holy. (Ex 31:13-17)
8 When Yahovah finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of thecovenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (Ex 31:18 NIV)
Yahovah Carries Out His Plans to Fulfill His Covenant with Israel
Moses also received from Yahovah, the blue print for building the Tabernacle, a place where Yahovah would dwell among His people; and the blueprint for building the Ark, the place where Yahovah will put His copy of the covenant between Him and Israel, for safe keeping. This Ark is also referred to as the Ark of the Testimony (Covenant).
Woven into the covenant law we find the process by which Israel will become a holy nation and a royal priesthood unto Yahovah their God, if they obey his words fully and keep His covenant. In this meeting, Yahovah also gave Moses instructions on how to build the holy Tabernacle with furnishings, articles, description of the job description for each priest; priestly garments; artisans to works on any furniture, article, incense, oil for the tabernacle; priestly garments, and holiness procedures to consecrate the altar and the priesthood. Moses also received Yahovah’s protocol on how to implement and manage the detailed system of holiness to maintain holiness in the Tabernacle and protect the life of the people.
Israel Broke the Marriage Covenant with Yahovah
Moses returned with Yahovah’s affirmed copy of the covenant (Testimony) in his hand. He saw the children of Israel worshiping a golden calf which Yahovah had forbidden them to do in the covenant agreement. This was a violation of their blood covenant with Yahovah so they had brought the punishment of death upon themselves. But Moses interceded for them and Yahovah did not destroy them in His anger. However the nation of Israel had lost their peace with God. Their unfaithfulness and ignorance of God continued for their generations in spite of Yahovah’s counsel and warnings to return to Him.
Deut 5:1-3, Moses declared that Yahovah entered into a covenant with His people Israel at Mount Sinai.
Deut. 6:10-15, God announces His jealousy over His Wife, Israel
Yahovah Makes His Case Against Her to Protect His Holy Name.
Ezekiel 16:15-19 God describes how Israel was unfaithful to Him and became a harlot: 15But you did trust in your own beauty, and played the harlot because of your renown (fame), and poured out your fornications; on every one that passed by; his it was. 16 And of your garments you did take, and decked your high places with diverse colors, and played the harlot thereupon: the like things shall not come, neither shall it be so. 17 Thou had also taken your fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made to yourself images of men, and did commit whoredom with them, 18 And took thy broidered garments, and covered them: and thou has set mine oil and mine incense before them. 19 My meat also which I gave thee, fine flour, and oil, and honey, wherewith I fed thee, thou have even set it before them for a sweet savor: and thus it was, says Yahovah Elohim.
In a physical marriage, when a wife violates her marriage covenant by giving herself to another man – thereby committing adultery, in the same way Israel committed spiritual adultery against Yahovah by worshiping other gods.
Jeremiah 3:6-10; Jeremiah 3:11-18. After a century of pleading with the House of Israel to return to Him and her refusal to heed his counsel and warnings, Yahovah issued a bill of divorce to the House of Israel (the lost ten tribes). However, He did not divorce the House of Judah because they repented and returned to Him.
In Jeremiah 3:14, Yahovah says,
“Turn, O backsliding children, say the LORD; for I AM MARRIED UNTO YOU.”
Isaiah 54:5 the prophet Isaiah proclaimed,
“For thy Maker is thine HUSBAND; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel.”
Isa 59:2 says to Israel,
“2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
Yahovah described Israel as an adulterous wife in Hosea 1-2because she left Him to serve pagan gods despite her covenant with Him. Even so, Yahovah continued to be faithful to His covenant with Israel.
Ezekiel 16:8 Yahovah said:
“Your time was the time of love; so… I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine”.
Ezekiel 16:9-14 As a loving husband, Yahovah cared and provided for her
Ezekiel 16:15-19 But she became unfaithful by giving herself to spiritual harlotry
Ezekiel 16:20-21 She resorted to burning her children alive as sacrifices to false gods
Ezekiel 16:22-25 She had high places of worship to false gods on whom she lavished the gift she received from her husband
Ezekiel 16:26-29 She rejected her God when she committed spiritual harlotry by entering into forbidden alliances with foreign, idolatrous nations
Ezekiel 16:30 Speaking to the Jews political actions in Jerusalem, Yahovah said they were a brazen harlot because of their degenerate heart.
Now we see why in the new covenant, Yahovah promised to remove her heart of stone, give them a new heart, a heart of flesh with His law written on it.
Ezekiel 16:32-34. They refused to submit to Yahovah, their God and King. Instead, she paid foreign nations to enter into alliances with her and to rule over her.
Ezekiel 16:36,38 Yahovah declared,
“Because your filthiness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered in your harlotry with your lovers, and with all your abominable idols, and because of the blood of your children which you gave to them,… I will judge you as women who break wedlock or shed blood are judged; I will bring blood upon you in fury and jealousy”
Ezekiel 16:37-41 He would punish her using the nations with which she committed spiritual harlotry.
Ezekiel 16:42 This judgment will satisfy His fury toward them
Ezekiel 16:59 This was their punishment for breaking His covenant
Judges 2:10-13 tells us that after Israel, took possession of the Promised Land, under Joshua, the people were faithful to Yahovah’s covenant while Joshua and the Elders lived but they violated the covenant after the Elders died. These descendants did exactly as their parents. So, He separated them from Himself and His Holy Land by sending them into exile to be ruled by their enemies.
Reconciling Israel’s Marriage to Yahovah
1Cor 7:10-11 10 To the married I give this command; not I, but Yahovah: A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife. (NIV)
Isa 54:5-8 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. 6 For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou was refused, says thy God. 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. 8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. (KJV)
Yahovah Pleads With Israel to Repent and Return to Him
In Jeremiah 3:14, where we read the words,
“Turn, O backsliding children, says Yahovah; for I am married unto you.”
Ezekiel 20:33-37 Yahovah says,
“As I live,’ says the LORD God, ‘surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. I will bring you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,’ says the LORD God. ‘I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant”
The apostles tell us that though under the Old Covenant between Yahovah and Israel their relationship was based on holiness; Yahovah was aware of their weaknesses of being ignorant about who He is and not having the fear of God. So in His mercy He overlooked their ignorance and did not punish them. His forbearance left the sins they committed beforehand, unpunished.
Acts 14:16 He allowed all nations to walk in their own ways without destroying them in His wrath
Acts 17:23 They were ignorant of the God they worshipped
Acts 17:30 But in His mercy He overlooked their ignorance
Romans 3:25 In His forbearance God left the sins committed beforehand unpunished
1 Pet 1:14 the disobedient conformed to their evil desires they had while living in ignorance of the God they worshipped.
The words of Yahovah’s Covenant reveal His heart, nature and mind allowing us to get to know Him. Today, Israel continues to be in a covenant nation with Yahovah because He has been faithful and not forsaken Israel; even though she broke the covenant.
This covenant with the children of Israel is NOT the same as the covenant Yahovah made with Abraham, Isaac and Israel (Jacob). His covenant with Israel is bilateral and conditional. WHEREAS, the covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac and Israel was a unilateral and unconditional. Consequently, Yahovah now has two covenants to fulfill: 1) His promise in the bilateral, conditional covenant with the children of Israel; 2) His unconditional, unilateral covenant with their ancestors.
Genesis 12:2-3; 28:14. “… In you and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed”
What Was Israel’s Purpose for Being Chosen?
Isaiah 42: 6-7. “I am Yahovah, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind.”
Since Israel did not fulfill her purpose Yahovah sent His Son to do what Israel did not do. Yahoshua read from the scroll of Isaiah:
Isa 61:1-2“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;2To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD”, (KJV)
Promise of the New Covenant
Jer 31:31-33“Behold, the days come, says the LORD, that I will make a NEW COVENANT with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers…which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, says the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days [i.e. in the future], says Yahovah, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people”
Ezekiel 36:24-28; 3624 For I will take you from among the heathen and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.25 “‘Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean; from all your filthiness and from all your idols will I cleanse you.26 A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.27 And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments and do them.28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be My people, and I will be your God…… 36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I, Yahovah, build the ruined places and plant that which was desolate. I, the Lord, have spoken it, and I will do it.”
Here, Yahovah is talking about a new covenant He will make with both House of Israel and House of Judah! These are the people who broke covenant with Him. The Gentiles are not in this picture because He is not opening the door to the gentiles at the time.
After seventy years of Babylonian exile, a remnant of the House of Judah repented and returned to Palestine. They rebuilt the Tabernacle under Ezra and Nehemiah and began worshiping their God again. But they fell away into adultery again. They continued to live in Palestine at the time of Yahoshua’s ministry and today the House of Judah is scattered again because they rejected Yahoshua because Yahovah caused them to partially blind, to fulfill His promise to Abraham that through the promised seed, Yahoshua, all the nations of the earth will be blessed. When the fullness of the Gentiles is complete, Yahovah will go back and complete the fulfillment of the prophecy in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36.
Yahoshua who came to preach the reconciliation message said I came to my own and my own did not receive me. He gave a command to his disciples that they must preach the gospel of the Kingdom only to Israel; not to the Gentiles. He stressed the point that they must not even go in the way of the Gentiles. This tells us that His reconciliation message was for Israel. Father prophesied that He included the gentiles in the new covenant, but not at that time. Yahovah included gentiles when he started reconciling the world unto Himself.
John 15:5 Yahoshua said:
I am the true vine, you are the branches and my Father is the Gardner
The Marriage Covenant Will be Reconciled
Yahovah fulfilled the first portion of the new covenant through the blood of Yahoshua and many from the House of Judah (Jews) believed and partook in the covenant. But Yahovah has planned to eventually reunite the House of Judah and House of Israel.
Yahovah was in Yahoshua reconciling the world unto Himself. If He did not complete the first part of the covenant in the blood of Yahoshua then He would not be able to reconcile the world to himself.
Yes it is true that Yahovah did divorce the House of Israel; NOT the House of Judah. Though He has reconciled the world, He will reconcile His bride after the time of the Gentiles is closed. Nonetheless, Yahovah prophesied that only a remnant will accept the offer of reconciliation to become His Bride again. Before that prophecy of restoration can be fulfilled, the divorce that Yahovah gave to the House of Israel has to be annulled in order to reconcile that Marriage. The marriage reconciliation was originally intended for Israel because His marriage covenant is with Israel. Yahovah opened the door for the Gentiles to enter into the new covenant with Him through Yahoshua, the true vine.
Ezekiel 36:33-38 “Thus says the LORD God: ‘On the day that I CLEANSE you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to DWELL in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt. The desolate land shall be tilled instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass by. So they will say, “This land that was desolate has become like the GARDEN OF EDEN; and the wasted, desolate, and ruined cities are now fortified and inhabited.” Then the nations which are left all around you shall know that I, the LORD, have REBUILT the ruined places and planted what was desolate. I, the LORD, have spoken it, and I will do it.’ Thus says the LORD God: ‘I will also let the House of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them: I will increase their men like a flock. Like a flock offered as holy sacrifices, like the flock at Jerusalem on its feast days, so shall the ruined cities be filled with flocks of men. Then they shall know that I am the LORD”.
Some people stumble at this verse and think that the New Covenant is the New Testament for the Gentiles and has nothing to do with the Jews. But He clearly stated House of Israel and House of Judah. The Jews are House of Judah. House of Israel is the ten lost tribes of Israel?
At the time of reckoning Judge, Yahoshua will say:
“Depart from me you workers of iniquity (lawlessness) I never knew you”.
Only those who are in covenant with Yahoshua are the people he knows. If gentiles don’t even know what the covenant is, then they cannot enter into covenant with Him. And, if the law was done away with then, adultery, stealing, lying, murder, covetousness, honor your father and mother, idolatry, fornication, would all be legal. Yet they say: “Jesus kept the law so we don’t have to keep it” Right? Wrong!! Under the new covenant (New Testament), Yahovah says, everyone that sins (transgress the law) will die for his own sins. See: Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 18:18,20; Deut 24:16.
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