Missed Insights About Genesis 12:3 (Part 3)

See the series here 

‘I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
and in you, all the families of the Earth shall be blessed.’

Genesis 12:3

 

Perhaps ever since The Lord inspired Moses to pen this pivotal promise, people who read it likely had significantly different understandings of who would be the you in it. Abram, whose name The Lord changed to Abraham, is ‘the father of many nations’. So the possible choices are many across his vast line of descendants—Ishmael’s Arabs, Esau’s Edomites, Jacob’s Hebrews and Jews, and only God knows which others! The Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel, and selected his to be the descendant line through which He would be born as a man, to pay the price for all sin. In light of this, Christians generally interpret the you in this verse, as Jews and governments of Israel. Yet The Bible reveals The Lord’s significantly different choice. 

 

Let’s conclude our exploration of Genesis 12:3, and finally learn who is the descendant you that is thrice referenced in this prophecy. Who gets to ‘claim the prize’ of The Lord’s blessings throughout history??

Worship or Warfare? (Part 1)

When most of us picture the exodus, we see miracles, freedom, Sinai, tablets, and a nation learning to worship. True enough. But what was The Lord’s immediate objective? The classic read is devotional. The Lord’s repeated demand—‘that they may serve Me’ (Exodus 7:16)—is taken as a summons to worship, covenant loyalty, religious festivals, and a tabernacle-centered life. Israel would be forged into a holy (set apart) nation at Sinai; the wilderness would become a classroom of faith; and Canaan waits until the Hebrews become spiritually fit. This perspective coheres with the giving of The Law and the charge to be a kingdom of priests.

 

A second view (as modern voices echo it) highlights timing: Genesis 15:16 states ‘the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.’ Thus, The Lord deliberately delays judgment of the Amorites. The four centuries Hebrews spent in Egypt aren’t merely about Israel’s growth. They allow Canaan’s corruption to ripen to the threshold where judgment is indisputably just. The exodus then becomes the moral regulator of timing: Genesis 15:14, ‘Not yet!’, then 4 centuries later    ‘… Now!’

Missed Insights About Genesis 12:3 (Part 2)

See the series here

‘I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

and in you, all the families of the Earth shall be blessed.’ 

Genesis 12:3

Many Christians may casually quote Genesis 12:3 without asking who this verse addresses over time. They may treat it as a blanket promise of blessing for supporting Jews and/or modern Israel. That is the result of a rather myopic focus on one verse, out of context of the message across the entire Bible! Moreover, as noted in Part 1, they completely side-step the considerable blessings The Lord pronounced on Ishmael, Abraham’s first son, and on his descendants—Arabs.

In Part 2, let’s explore why the ‘you’ in this verse is neither Jews or Israel. Brace yourselves as we continue with my 4th point in this series. What follows is not ethnic condemnation, but aspects of divine chastening within covenant. This is not a blanket indictment on any people, but a careful reading of how God disciplines within covenant. Please read prayerfully, not defensively.

Tips to Understand The Bible (Part 1)

See Part 2 here

 

I grew up among faithful saints whose education was limited, but whose love for The Lord was real. They passed on what light they had, and I will always honor them for it. Yet I have since discovered that much of what they taught was lifted out of context — single verses detached from their chapters, concepts colored by their socio-economic struggles, and moments divorced from the long sweep of The Lord’s strategy.

 

Sadly, many teachers today may be doing the same or similar things. They may read The Bible with a relatively narrow, religious mindset, for example:

A Cup of Drunkenness and Heavy Stone

 

Readers, 

This is ‘the back and forward story’ of how, when and why Jerusalem is like a cup of drunkenness for surrounding nations, and a HEAVY STONE for the whole world! 

In Zechariah 12:2-3, The Lord inspired the prophet to pen His following intentions:

 

Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem. And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for ALL peoples; all who would attempt to heave it away will surely injure themselves, though all nations of the Earth are gathered against it.

 

Many, if not most Bible teachers think this applies to the tribulation age, the last half of which will feature the apocalypse and Armageddon. History proves the veracity of this prophecy, and global news reports, daily confirm its continued unfolding. However, history actually demonstrates it began to unfold much earlier—as a repetitive pattern! 

Missed Insights About Genesis 12:3 (Part 1)

See the series here

See the Missed Insights series here

We seriously missed the key points in this verse! 

‘...I will bless those who bless you,

And I will curse him who curses you;

and in you, all the families of the Earth shall be blessed.’

Genesis 12:3

 

To achieve Heaven’s plans to redeem humans from the eternal curse of our sins, The Lord selected a people lineage through whom He would be born as a man to sacrifice Himself, physically and spiritually, and thus pay our unpayable price. That lineage is Jews, born through Jacob, whose name The Lord changed to Israel. From Heaven’s perspective, their selection, first hinted in Genesis 3:15 and later in Genesis 12:3, was intended as an incredible blessing! An eventual righteous remnant of that lineage will be appointed to serve Him as immortal priests in the global capital city of a promised, new, MASSIVE, eternal Earth. (Exodus 19:6) How exciting! Yet...sadly, their, and our collective sinfulness has flipped many aspects of this script.  

 

Many Christians might be conflicted about Genesis 12:3, possibly thinking it narrowly means: ‘Bless Israel, or The Lord will curse you.’ If only we would s-l-o-w  d-o-w-n and perceive the Biblical, historical and spiritual contexts of this verse, we might comprehend it in a much wider, sharper, and more ‘unsettling ‘light’ than our religious mindsets may allow. ¹ 

Foresaw, Seeing, Foreseeing: America's Decision Crossroads

America’s so-called forefathers who drafted the Constitution, ‘foresaw’ an authoritative executive who would run roughshod over the Constitution, and trash core values enshrined therein. Remember Ben Franklin’s quote, ‘A republic, IF you can keep it’. That was in response to the question, ‘What kind of government was created at the Constitutional Convention?’ The person/people who asked that question is/are long gone. We today have become the ‘you’ who apparently couldn’t keep it. Because we returned to the executive, someone who promised to fulfill just about everything those forefathers foresaw, we now see what they foresaw. 

To My Jewish Kinfolk (Letter)

See the Hasty Jewish Migrations series here

See the Israel series here

Framed in The Lord’s voice, 

as He impressed upon me in prayer.

 

My Dear Jewish Kinfolk,

 

I am Jesus Christ, The Lord God, and soon-to-be-revealed Jewish Messiah. 

 

I recently inspired my servant, J!, to sharpen his focus and understanding about the 9 Hebrew/Jewish migrations historically and prophetically noted across the pages and ages of My Bible. He pointed out that 5 of those migrations were/would be hasty, 3 of which are historical, and 2 remain as prophetic. I write this letter through Him to accentuate the 2 pending hasty, global, Jewish migrations I have ordained.

 

Some Bible teachers are correct in comparing the 4th pending migration to the exodus of your ancestors out of ancient Egypt. Yet their comparisons have missed a few, key, strategic points worth clarifying. Hence this letter.

First, Long Silence, Now, Compressed Age! (Letter)

See the Letters series here

Dear Lord, 

 

When Judeans began to return to Palestine from their exile in Babylon (circa 538 BC—the 6th century BC), You allowed them about 400 years to re-establish, in Palestine, the Jewish language, lifestyle, culture, 2nd temple, and covenantal life—touted as 400 years of silence from Heaven.

 

My heart once trembled at the thought of such a long delay after the AD 70 exile ended in 1948, when Israel was re-established as a unified, modern nation. As Jews’ return from Babylon was strategically in preparation for Your first coming—Your birth as a man, Scripture is abundantly clear that their 1948 return is strategically in preparation for Your return as Earth’s global king—Your promised second coming.

Hasty Jewish Migrations (Climax, Part 4)

See the series here. 

 

As the plight of Palestinians 

Play out across Palestine,

The Lord’s plans, for Jews assigned:

Two more hasty, global migrations! ¹ 

 

The first one, penned by Zechariah,

Will be before The Lord’s return— ² 

‘Set-up’ for attacks led by Russia, 

Following its ‘Ukraine pattern’?? ³

The First and Last Hegemons

Psst…. Hey there,

What do you think might be Heaven’s reason for establishing and allowing hegemony among the nations of the world? ¹ Might we intuit answers by examining the Grand Marshall and Special Entry in history’s parade of hegemons—typically the first and last entries of a parade?

 

Biblically, nations emerged after the flood (Genesis 10–11); historically, our earliest, clear nation-state patterns appeared post-Tower of Babel. But why nations? Why were certain nations allowed to grow to the point that they could/would dominate other nations across a range of sectors? And why have they ultimately collapsed under their own weight—successively corroded in morality and coherence?

The Bible indicates nations were a post-Tower of Babel development, in response to The Lord’s command for people to multiply and fill the Earth. Post-flood humans had a better idea than to scatter a thin population across the vast, empty Earth! We know who won that argument! After He confused their languages, they spread far and wide, grouped by languages. That led to the development of unique cultures and social arrangements. It also led to eventual competition, as each nation developed differently, according to its culture, social arrangements, and especially available NATURAL RESOURCES! But I intuit Heaven may have had other, more strategic, ‘story-telling’ purposes in this progression.

Freedom of 'Seasoned' Speech (Poem)

Freedom of speech, an intended Grace,

Some governments give to citizens.

But with traps, it is heavily laced,

Turning some folks into …‘shitizens’!

 

You see, with Graces to us given,

We have a natural tendency,

To ‘hog’ it for ‘us, and our chosen’,

And restrict others’ dependency.

Leadership 'Inversality' (Poem)

In choosing leaders to serve,

The Lord God displays His Hand,

Giving to any people,

Leaders He knows they deserve.

He thus achieves His Grand Plan,

That’s revealed in His Bible. ¹

 

History echoes this pattern,

From ancient, to modern times.

We could see it if only,

Into folks’ hearts we could discern.

Yet there is a paradigm,

That shows it to us clearly! ²

 

Though He gives us ‘freedom of choice’,

He knows what we’ll choose in advance,

His foreknowledge plus our freedom,

Synergistically form ‘a voice’.

So what we think happens by chance,

Is that voice, shaping His outcomes! ³

14th Anniversary!

Friends,

The just-concluded 13th year (Sept.--Aug.) of Life in the Key of J! was blessed with remarkable growth, both in content (105 posts vs. 77 in Year 12), and especially readership across the world. Join me in praising The Lord for the many new readers who have joined us in exploring deeper insights into His Multi-millennial Strategic Plan for Humanity—The Holy Bible!

Jesus promised: 'To everyone who has, more will be given, and he/she will have abundance.' (Matthew 13:12) He spoke of broader, deeper insights into Heaven’s secret plans. The Lord revealed it to Joel during the 2nd age (Joel 2:28–29); then, as a man, Jesus was the last One Who helped to fulfill it at the end of that age! Peter repeated it at the start of the 3rd age (Acts 2:17–18), which I believe sparked its application to us who are thirsty and attentive during the closing years of this age! Imagine that... I now believe such outpourings will be one of Heaven’s repeating patterns at the close of each remaining age of our history (get this...) including The Millennial Reign and the post-Millennial Reign ages—fresh, confirming insights poured into thirsty souls!!!

My prayer is that you and many others will remain increasingly thirsty for Heaven's fresh downloads, and attentive to discern them by applying The Mind of Christ within us.

Every discernible, predicted precursor of the closing of this 3rd age has long been visible across the world. The only one beyond our discernment is ‘the fullness of Gentiles’ entering the Kingdom. If you are aware of other precursors not yet on the scene, please let me know!

Thank you for your readership in the months ahead, and your encouraging financial support (no matter how small). I look forward to your probing questions that challenge and sharpen us as we continue this journey together.

‘New year’ blessings~

—Brother J!

Hasty Jewish Migrations (Part 3)

Click here to see the series, plus 

9, predicted, major, Jewish migrations

 

Parts 1–2 trace 5 hasty Jewish migrations—3 historical, 2 prophetic—and the patterns behind them. It poetically frames the 5 hasty migrations as catalyzed by 7 men: an Egyptian Pharaoh, Moses, a Roman Emperor, Germany's Hitler, the final anti-Christ man, Jesus The Lord God, and either the anti-Christ's prophet/prime minister, OR possibly one of Israel's prime ministers who might commit despicable acts that trigger massive, global anti-Jewishness. 

 

Here’s a reminder of the list of 9 major, Jewish migrations across The Bible, 5 of which would be hasty:

1.     Canaan → Egypt (not hasty)

2.     Egypt → Canaan (hasty #1)

3.     Israel → Assyria (not hasty)

4.     Judah → Babylon (not hasty)

5.     Babylon → Judah (not hasty)

6.     Judea → the world (AD 70) (hasty #2)

7.     Europe → Israel (post-1945) (hasty #3)

8.     Worldwide → Israel (pre-MR) (hasty #4, prophetic)

9.     Worldwide → Israel (early-MR) (hasty #5, prophetic, Isaiah 60)

 

Part 3 connects those patterns to The Lord’s Grace, Judgments, and the rise-and-fall of hegemon nations, to demonstrate how and why the 2 final hasty migrations might unfold as The Bible predicts.

 

Let’s briefly take note of some pre- and post-migratory parallelisms in Jewish history and in yet-fulfilled prophecies. Relevant questions may be:

 

1. Were all major migrations away from the promised land, triggered as a result of their unrepented sinfulness during lengthy periods in that land?

2. Were/will all return migrations back to the promised land triggered by The Lord’s Grace ‘to give them another chance’, and in preparation for His unique events that would/will have global impacts?

3. What were/might be significant external factors that might have impacted/will impact the 5 hasty migrations? (Prepare for a shocking insight!)