CALEB: THE ENGRAFTED GENTILE Along With Other, Not-So-Famous Dog Stories

by Craig Wm. Peters

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PREFACE

Today we are witnessing a spectrum of common, but erroneous, teachings which propound only physical Yisraelites – only physical descendants of Ya’acob – may receive spiritual blessings unto eternal salvation. From where do those who profess to believe the Scriptures glean such glaring falsehood? Yet worse, how is it they can openly polish and treasure such worthless “gems” which are nothing but tokens of their abject ignorance? Mark 12:24 And how do such confined viewpoints oppose the word and ways of the Most High? We will see that the promise of hwhy to bless all nations through the Seed of Abraham is a promise which He has clearly fulfilled down through the ages; and hwhy continues to fulfill that promise to this very day!

This study will show that salvation has always been granted by the favor of hwhy through faith in His word. We will further show the way of salvation has always been open to repentant Gentiles who enter the Commonwealth of Yisrael. This article also rebukes the pride of anti-Semitic Christians; such arrogance largely exists in the southern states of our country, but it is seen in numerous other locations across the United States as well. At the same time, this work also opposes the national pride so prevalent today in Judaism, especially among the Hasidic Jews/Yehudim.1 There is simply no place in the Kingdom of hwhy for pride. The choice of hwhy in His selection of Yisrael was not because they possessed anything better in themselves than was found in any of the other nations:

Speak not thou in thine heart, after that hwhy thy Elohim hath cast them out from before thee, saying, For my righteousness hwhy hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations hwhy doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations hwhy thy Elohim doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which hwhy 1 Hereafter, “Jews” shall be rendered “Yehudim” while “Jew” is rendered “Yehudi.”

sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that hwhy thy Elohim giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiffnecked people. Remember, and forget not, how thou provokedst hwhy thy Elohim to wrath in the wilderness: from the day that thou didst depart out of the land of Egypt, until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against hwhy. Deuteronomy 9:4-7

Much like some of our modern-day political appointments to offices of service, hwhy chose Abraham, Yitschak, Ya’acob, and the nation of Yisrael to spearhead His initial work of salvation in all the earth. Yisrael’s appointment did not make them greater than other nations any more than political officials are greater than those they were appointed to serve; but the appointment/choice/election by hwhy does put upon the appointees the responsibility to live properly and to fully represent the Most High and His eternal paths.2 Yisrael was the firstborn of hwhy,3 and as such, that nation was intended to be an example to the rest of the family of mankind; that is, Yisrael was supposed to be an example to the other nations of the earth. 1Kings 4:34, 10:6,7 However, they failed in their responsibility to heed and to walk in “the ancient paths” of the Torah.4 History shows the nation of Yisrael failed miserably time and time again: they forsook the commandments of the Torah and learned the ways of the nations around them. Yet hwhy had always intended for it to be the other way around! Yisrael was supposed to sound forth the Torah of hwhy throughout all the earth!5 But Yisrael 2 Even as we hold elected, political officials to a higher standard, so it is the same with hwhy. Yisrael was supposed to be an example to the other nations around them, Deuteronomy 4:6-8 It is just as eswhy said, “To whom much is given, much is also required.” Luke 12:48 3 Exodus 4:22,23 4 Isaiah 28:12, 30:15, Jeremiah 6:16. These words of the prophets show Yisrael refused to walk in the ways of peace and rest extended to them by hwhy through the ancient paths of the Torah! Most today who claim to believe in the Most High continue in this outright refusal! Romans 8:7 5 The determination of hwhy to do this through Yisrael remains unchanged (Romans 11:29) and His plan in this

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continued to forsake the Torah and their latter disobedience resulted in captivity and almost complete disarray.

While it is true eswhy said, “I am not come but unto the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael,”6 these words were never meant to be taken as a blanket statement for the entire plan of salvation. Those who interpret it as such have fallen into grave error. Salvation was to “the Yehudi first” to fulfill the promises made by hwhy to the fathers;7 this is why eswhy stated He had only come for the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael; but afterwards, salvation through the Messiah was extended “to the Greek also.” Romans 1:16 The prophet Isaiah made it very clear that hwhy would gather sheep which were not of the fold of Yisrael:

The Sovereign hwhy which gathereth the outcasts of Yisrael saith, “Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.” Isaiah 56:8

We cannot claim the last category of scattered sheep mentioned by Isaiah are the descendants of Ya’acob; for hwhy is stating He will gather others to Yisrael in addition to those He calls “the outcasts of Yisrael.” These would be the non-Yisraelite peoples. Some erroneously teach the word “Gentiles” in Scripture refers only to the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael, but in the Evangel of Matthew the Gentiles are directly contrasted with the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael; this contrast is provided to us by the Messiah Himself:

These twelve eswhy sent forth, and commanded them, saying, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter you not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Yisrael.” Matthew 10:5,68

This negates the theory which many teach as fact; namely, that “Gentiles” = “the lost sheep

regard will still eventually be realized! Isaiah 2:1-5, Micah 4:1-4, Zechariah 8:20-23, Malachi 3:10-12 6 Matthew 15:24 7 Matthew 1:1, Luke 1:54,55,68-75, Acts 3:25,26, Romans 1:16, 9:5, 15:8 8 For other places where the term “Gentiles” is directly contrasted with “Yisrael” see: Lamentations 2:9, Hoshea 8:8, Matthew 20:19, 25-27, Luke 2:32, 21:24, Acts 4:27, 7:45, 9:15, Romans 11:25, 15:8-10, Revelation 11:2.

of the house of Yisrael.” Further, the clear context of this portion of the Isaiah 56 prophecy is one which deals with foreigners – non-Yisraelite people – who join themselves to hwhy! (See Isaiah 56:1-8) Referring to the prophecy of Isaiah 56:8, eswhy stated the very same thing with the following words:

“Other sheep have I which are not of this fold; them must I bring also; and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock with one Shepherd.” Yochanan/John 10:16

This was the word spoken by the Prophesied Seed of Abraham, even eswhy the Messiah. This was the word spoken by the Savior through whom hwhy declared He would bless all nations. Genesis 12:3, 22:18 The Messiah promised to bring sheep which were not originally of the house of Yisrael! The apostle Shaul wrote likewise:

Wherefore remember, that you being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time you were without Messiah, being aliens from the Commonwealth of Yisrael, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; but now in Messiah eswhy you who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of the Messiah. Ephesians 2:11-13

It is faith in eswhy the Messiah which makes every believer part of the Commonwealth of Yisrael. Our study will show this is the way it has always been. Throughout the ages, there have always been those who became a part of the Commonwealth of Yisrael although not physical descendants of Ya’acob (or Abraham!). And we will see that those engrafted, Gentile dogs were faithful believers who often stood far above their Yisraeli brethren concerning faith in the Mighty One of Ya’acob and loyalty to His cause. The lives of such Gentiles summarily show us that all things are “of Him, and to Him, and through Him” … “to Whom be the splendor forever, Nma.” Romans 11:36

C.P. Northridge, CA 4/16/2004

t s r q u p e o n m l k y j x z w h d g b a

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Caleb: the Engrafted Gentile Along With Other, Not-So-Famous Dog Stories

Surely none of the men that came up out of Mitsrayim,

from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I swore to Abraham, to Yitschak, and to Ya’acob; because they have

not wholly followed Me: except Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite, and Yehoshua, the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed hwhy.

Numbers 32:11,12

Caleb, the Dog The term “dog” was used by many men of faith to describe the unclean Gentiles who lived in the darkness of unbridled lust due to their ignorance of the light given by the Torah of hwhy. Ephesians 4:17-19 Many have used the term “dog” to refer to the general greed and uncleanness of those living in disobedience to the Torah:9

• David, Psalm 22:16

• Isaiah, Isaiah 56:11

• eswhy the Messiah, Matthew 7:6, 15:22-28

• The apostle Shaul, Philippians 3:2

• The apostle John, Revelation 22:15

And we note the term “dog” is yet to be used in the future when the unclean, commandment-breaking dogs10 are shut outside the pure city of the New Yerushalayim. Revelation 22:14,15.

An Old Dog Can Learn New Tricks! Perhaps the most instructive lesson which can be gleaned from the unclean creatures mentioned in the Scriptures is the one we are given in regard to the dog. Negatively, male dogs are notorious for their unclean and unbridled urges to mate; it is further observed by the author that dogs – whether they are male or female – oftentimes eat their food with extreme haste and all-out greed, and these are typically coupled with a complete unwillingness to share as the canines

9 And generally, though not always, the term describes those living outside the Commonwealth of Yisrael. 10 This shows us that all animal flesh was not made clean “on the cross” as is claimed by so many in the Evangelical world. Dogs are still recognized as unclean animals many centuries after the Messiah’s death, burial, resurrection and ascension!

ferociously defend their meal, Isaiah 56:11. However, on the positive side, we have many heart-warming dog stories of canine loyalty to human masters (and to humans in general). It is this die-for-you-dog-loyalty which Caleb – the engrafted, Gentile dog – possessed and which made him stand above all Yisrael in his faith. Numbers 32:1,12 Caleb was ready to take the promised land in complete disregard of the giants who dwelled in Canaan at that time in history!

And Caleb stilled the people before Mosheh, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We are not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Yisrael, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. Numbers 13:30-33

The Sons of the Stranger Caleb’s name in Hebrew means “dog” and he was an engrafted Gentile evidently of the second generation. Scripture records Caleb’s father was Jephunneh, the Kenezite. Yet the Kenezites were among those Canaanite nations which hwhy told Abraham his descendants would drive out of the promised land! Genesis 15:18-2111 However, because of his faithfulness to abide by the word of hwhy, Caleb – “the [son] of a stranger”12 – was

11 The KJV is not consistent in the rendering of this word: it is here given as “Kenizzite” while elsewhere the identical Hebrew word is translated “Kenezite.” 12 Isaiah 56:6,7

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grafted into the Commonwealth of Yisrael and was given an inheritance within one of the 12 tribes (the tribe of Yehudah) according to the word of hwhy:

Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he has trodden upon, and to his children, because he has wholly followed hwhy. Deuteronomy 1:35,36

Evidently, “the sons of the stranger” are very important to hwhy as He speaks of fully accepting them in His house of prayer:

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to hwhy, to serve him, and to love the Name of hwhy, to be His servants, every one that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of My covenant; even them will I bring to My set apart mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:6,7

It appears possible that some Yisraelites were reluctant to grant Caleb his inheritance in the tribe of Yehudah for it was necessary for him to request it of Yehoshua/Joshua in the presence of said tribe even after the word of hwhy had long-since commanded this was to be his portion in the land:

Then the children of Yehudah/Judah came unto Yehoshua in Gilgal: and Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, said unto him, You know the thing that hwhy said unto Mosheh the man of Elohim concerning me and you in Kadesh-barnea. Forty years old was I when Mosheh the servant of hwhy sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed hwhy my Elohim. And Mosheh swore on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance, and your children’s for ever, because you have wholly followed hwhy my Elohim. And now, behold, hwhy has kept me alive, as He said, these forty and five years,

even since hwhy spoke this word unto Mosheh, while the children of Yisrael wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day eighty and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Mosheh sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof hwhy spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be hwhy will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as hwhy said. And Yehoshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, unto this day, because that he wholly followed hwhy Elohim of Yisrael.13 Yehoshua 14:6-14

All of this explains why Caleb is said to be of the tribe of Yehudah, Numbers 13:6, 34:19. However, he was not born into the tribe of Yehudah! It is written that Caleb had to be given a portion among the children of Yehudah. His portion with the tribe of Yehudah was not inherited by blood, but by his display of faith in the word of hwhy:

And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Yehudah, according to the commandment of hwhy to Yehoshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. Yehoshua 15:13

Notice it was necessary to give Caleb this portion among the children of Yehudah because he was not automatically born into it! It was not his inheritance by birth. And even in the future, hwhy commands an inheritance is to be given to those Gentiles who sojourn within Yisrael; like Caleb they are to be given an inheritance amongst one of the Twelve Tribes:

And it shall come to pass, that you shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the

13 Notice also the contrast between Jephunneh, the Kenezite, and hwhy Elohim of Yisrael.

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children of Yisrael;14 they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Yisrael. And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourns, there shall you give him his inheritance, says hwhy Elohim. Ezekiel 47:22,23

Many Are Called, But Few are Chosen Many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 20:16, 22:14 Many were called out of Mitsrayim, but a very few were chosen to enter the land of promise. And the few chosen to enter that land were Yehoshua, son of Nun, and Caleb, son of Jephunneh the Kenezite. The first was the servant of Mosheh15 while the second was an engrafted, Gentile dog. What a stinging rebuke to the national pride which is pervasive amongst so many Yehudim in our own day! Of all the Yisraelites who came out of Mitsrayim, Caleb – an engrafted, Gentile dog – was one of the only two men to enter into the promised land! One Yisraelite-born and one engrafted Gentile would be the only two to enter the land of promise. Let us learn well from this the lesson which hwhy desires to teach us: He looks for faithfulness, loyalty, and humility in His people.16 True Yisrael consists of those who are pure in heart regardless of their nationality.17 To inherit the Kingdom of hwhy we must not only be called out of this world, but we must be “called, chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14

We now consider a number of other cases of those who were not pure, physical descendants of Yisrael, but who, nevertheless, became part of the nation.

The Sons of Yoseph In Mitsrayim, Yoseph married Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, the priest of On.18 Asenath was outside the Commonwealth of Yisrael. Before the famine struck the land, two sons were born to Yoseph and Asenath: Ephrayim and Menashsheh.19 We later see these lads were blessed by Ya’acob and his

14 Notice the “sons of the stranger” become full-blown members of the Commonwealth of Yisrael. 15 Exodus 33:11, Numbers 11:28 16 Deuteronomy 11:18, Proverbs 3:3, 6:20-23, 7:1-3, Jeremiah 9:23,24, 22:16, Hoshea 4:1,2, Micah 6:8,9 17 Psalm 73:1, John 1:47, Romans 2:28,29 18 Genesis 41:50 19 Genesis 41:51,52

name was called upon them; they were recognized by Yisrael as part of his nation. Not only was the name of Yisrael to be called upon them, but also the name of Abraham and Yitschak: 16 The Messenger which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Yitschak; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth … 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Yisrael bless, saying, Elohim make you as Ephrayim and as Menashsheh: and he set Ephrayim before Menashsheh. Genesis 48:16,20

Rahab, the Harlot To Rahab, the harlot, was imputed righteousness by faith because she hid the spies of Yisrael to save their lives.20 This woman acted in such a fashion because she feared hwhy.21 Not only did Rahab and her family become part of the Commonwealth of Yisrael,22 but she partook in the lineage of King David and the Messiah. Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:4,5 Though hwhy is high, yet He has regard for the lowly.23 He who looks upon the heart24 has always been in the business of redeeming souls for His unstoppable, eternal Kingdom purposes.

Ruth, the Moabite The story of Ruth, the Moabite, is probably one of the most moving in all of Scripture history. Elimelech, Naomi, and their sons left Yisrael and lived in the land of Moab during a severe famine. Elimelech died in the land of Moab and his two sons – Mahlon and Chilion – married women of that land. One of those sons, Mahlon, married Ruth, the Moabitess.25 Later, both Mahlon and Chilion died as well. Upon Naomi’s return to Yisrael, Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law; she determined to remain with Naomi and spoke those heart-

20 Yehoshua 2:1-7, 6:17,22,23,25, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:25 21 Yehoshua 2:8-13 22 Yehoshua 6:25 23 Psalm 138:6 24 1Samuel 16:7 25 Ruth 4:10

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moving words which expressed the deepest love and commitment:

And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you: for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge: your people shall be my people, and your Elohim, my Elohim; where you die, will I die, and there will I be buried: hwhy do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part you and me. Ruth 1:16,17

So Ruth returned to Yisrael with Naomi. In due time, she was recognized as a virtuous woman26 and was betrothed by and married to Boaz – an honorable, but older man of great wealth. Not only did Ruth become part of the Commonwealth of Yisrael, but she partook in the lineage of King David and the Messiah, Ruth 4:18-22, Matthew 1:4,5.

Uriah, the Hittite Uriah the Hittite is one of the greatest men who ever lived.27 His faith towards the Elohim of Yisrael and his loyalty to King David (who eventually murdered him) were just as staunch as his death was tragic. The white-is-Yisrael folks28 simply cannot win in the case of Uriah the Hittite. Here is a man who became a part of Yisrael and who numbered among David’s valiant men.29 His loyalty to the king and to his fellows was second-to-none. And why do we say the “Israel Identity”/white supremacists cannot win in the case of Uriah the Hittite? Quite simply, his existence foils their theology.30 For one of the following two scenarios must be the case:

1. Since Uriah was married to Bathsheba, if we assume Bathsheba was also a Hittite (or a woman of some other Gentile nation), then David later marries a woman of non-Israelite blood and she subsequently bears him a Yisraelite son – Solomon – who not only

26 Ruth 2:11 27 His name is even mentioned within the genealogy of eswhy the Messiah. Matthew 1:6 28 A number of people claim only the white, Anglo-Saxon people are descendents of Yisrael; at least a few of these white-supremacists call this doctrine the “Israel Identity” teaching. 29 2Shemuel 23:23-39, 1Chronicles 11:26,41 30 Or should we call it their “theory-ology?”

reigns as king over Yisrael, but who also is part of the lineage to the Messiah, Matthew 1:6. Or, (perhaps even more offensive to the white supremacist crowd) …

2. Uriah was married to Bathsheba, who was a Yisraelite woman! This was most likely the case since Bathsheba’s father had a Hebrew Name: Meyla – “Eliam” = “El(ohim) of the people.” 2Shemuel 11:3 In this second scenario, we have a Yisraelite woman married to an engrafted, Gentile dog.

The above scenarios are the only two possibilities, yet neither of these possibilities can be palatable amongst those who purport salvation is only open to the “white Israeli peoples”31 and who further teach racial separation in marriage and living.

Did David “justify” his sin with Bathsheba by reckoning Yisrael was originally supposed to wipe out the Hittites anyway? Genesis 15:18,20 Perhaps this was part of his deceptive reasoning. Only hwhy knows the answer to that question. In any case, with the man, Uriah, we once more witness the die-for-you-dog-loyalty which hwhy desires to see in all of his people. One cannot help but notice Uriah’s loyalty to fellow soldiers who were yet out on the battlefield: he refused all the comforts of home while his fellow soldiers were in danger and discomfort. 2Shemuel 11:6-13 Even with the king’s “permission” to go down to his house, Uriah still refused to do so! Since Uriah did not go down to sleep with his wife, David contrived to have him killed. 2Shemuel 11:14-27 We are told the thing which David did in killing Uriah and in taking Bathsheba displeased hwhy. In addition to murder and adultery, there is yet another reason this whole incident reeked with such a foul stench and so greatly displeased hwhy. It is a reason which relates directly to the Qadosh Name of hwhy. Uriah was a Hittite; he was a stranger who joined himself to hwhy and who manifestly loved the Name of hwhy.32 How do we know this? Uriah loved the Name of hwhy

31 Remember, it is the claim of certain white-supremacist groups that the Anglo-Saxons alone are descendants of Jacob/Israel. This author disagrees with that theory. 32 Isaiah 56:6

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so much that either he, his parents, or someone else gave him a name which brought honor to the very Name of the Most High!33 For the name, “Ur-Yah,” meant/means “Light of Yah,”34 where “Yah”35 is the short form of hwhy just as is pronounced in the well-known exclamation of praise, “Hallelu-Yah!”36 This latter phrase means, “Praise ye Yah!” “Yah” is the short form of hwhy and it is used in numerous places throughout Scripture.37 Centuries later, the prophet Isaiah spoke of engrafted Gentiles who would become a part of Yisrael and who would love the name of hwhy:

Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to hwhy, to serve Him, and to love the Name of hwhy, to be His servants, every one that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and takes hold of My covenant; even them will I bring to My set apart mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon My altar; for My house shall be called an house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:6, 7

Inasmuch as this writer can ascertain, UrYah/Uriah, the Hittite, is the only direct example in all of Scripture of a foreigner who so loved the Name of hwhy … No other engrafted Gentile bears the Name of hwhy except Ur-Yah! While there were surely other

33 We note the following: Uriah was likely a first-generation, engrafted Gentile. We say this for the following reason: while Uriah is referred to as “Uriah the Hittite, Caleb is never called “Caleb, the Kenezite.” Caleb was the second generation from his father, Jephunneh – Jephunneh, the Kenezite. Because Caleb was the son of a stranger (Isaiah 56:7), he was considered to be 100% Yisraeli. Ezekiel 47:22,23 Given these facts, it is likely Uriah himself changed his name, or, perhaps, a prophet or seer gave him a new name. 34 And Uriah was certainly used to shine the light of hwhy upon the heart of David although it all occurred in a tragic and bitter way. See the title of Psalm 51, along with vss. 1-10. 35 In Hebrew, “Yah” is written as, “hy.” 36 In Hebrew, “Hallelu-Yah,” is written as, “hy-wllh,” only without the hyphen. 37 See Companion Bible or Hebrew text of the following Scriptures: Exodus 15:2, Psalm 17:16, 68:4 (In this verse, the “Yah” is more closely translated as “JAH;” we ask, “Why not elsewhere?!”), 68:18, 77:11, 89:8, 94:7,12, 102:18, 115:17,18, 118:5,14,17,18,19, 122:4, 130:3, 135:4, Isaiah 12:2, 26:4, 38:11.

Gentiles who fulfilled this Isaiah prophecy by loving the Name of hwhy in many other ways, we are not given their names. Uriah is the only such Gentile on record! Ur-Yah/Uriah, the Hittite, was very special in the eyes of the Almighty! Since Uriah set his love upon hwhy, we also believe hwhy will show him His salvation, Psalm 91:14-16. Like the Messiah, Uriah will still have length of days in the resurrection, Isaiah 53:10.

Conclusion Is the offer of salvation available only to the physical descendants of Yisrael? If we believe only physical descendants of Yisrael will be saved, then we must shut many out of the Kingdom who preceded members of that nation! Yet we know such a stance would be absolutely erroneous since many were held forth as righteous through faith prior to Yisrael having ever existed: Abel, Enoch, Noach, Abraham, and Yitschak! Hebrews 11:4-20 eswhy even stated Abraham and Yitschak would enter into splendor as they come and sit down in the Kingdom, Matthew 8:11 Further, because we know hwhy does not change,38 we also know the way of salvation is still open to those who are not physical descendants of Ya’acob even as it has always been!

Many forms of racial and religious superiority abound throughout the Christian, Jewish, and Messianic religious sectors, but we assert there is no place for such pride in the Kingdom of hwhy. hwhy certainly had a place for protecting His ancient people of Yisrael from the outside influence of pagan rites and the false worship of heathen peoples whose practices were inspired by demons from antiquity.39 As such, He forbade his people to marry foreigners!40 However, when a man or woman became a part of the Commonwealth of Yisrael, he or she was no longer considered a foreigner! We have at least two examples of this in Scripture: Rahab and Ruth; both women married into the tribe of Yehudah41 and both became a part of the lineage leading

38 Malachi 3:6 39 Deuteronomy 18:9, Jeremiah 10:1-5 40 Exodus 34:11-16, Judges 3:5-8 41 That is, the tribe of Judah – from which came the word which was translated , “Jew(s).”

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to the Messiah! And to be sure, hwhy does not change, and He still maintains such concerns over separation today, Romans 12:1,2. It is still forbidden to marry someone without faith in the Elohim of Yisrael and His Messiah, 1Corinthians 7:39, 2Corinthians 6:14-7:1.

With or without those who advocate religious exclusivism as the order of the day, hwhy has blessed and will continue to bless all nations through the Seed of Abraham: eswhy, the Messiah. The promise of hwhy through eswhy the Messiah is to increase the descendants of Abraham beyond measure:

And He brought him forth abroad, and said, “Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if you are able to number them:” and He said unto him, “So shall your seed be.” Genesis 15:5

That in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. Genesis 22:17

And I will make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto your seed all these countries; and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed. Genesis 26:4

We see this promise shall surely be fulfilled – not merely through the tribes of Yisrael, but through all the peoples of the earth:

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our Elohim who sits upon the throne, and to the Lamb. Revelation 7:9,10

The die-for-you-dog-loyalty of believing Gentiles has always blessed the heart of the Creator who made them. Another such man lived in the days of the Messiah:

Now when he had ended all His sayings in the audience of the people, He entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick, and

ready to die. And when he heard of eswhy, he sent unto him the elders of the Yehudim, beseeching Him that He would come and heal his servant. And when they came to eswhy, they besought Him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom He should do this: for he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue. Then eswhy went with them. And when He was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying unto Him, Master, trouble not Yourself: for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto You: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it. When eswhy heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned Him about, and said unto the people that followed Him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Yisrael. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. Luke 7:1-10

The Scripture does not say hwhy weighs the color of a man’s skin; however, He does, indeed, weigh a man’s spirit and tries his heart. Proverbs 16:2, 17:3 hwhy looks on the heart and His Spirit has created many hearts of gold among the Gentiles down through the ages. From our study, it should be clear that the nation of Yisrael is not the only sector of people endowed with the Spirit of faith, loyalty, and love for their Creator. From the engrafted, Gentile dogs, Caleb and Uriah, to the Gentile women, Rahab and Ruth, to the Roman centurion read of just above, we should all learn lessons in faith and humility regardless of our spiritual, national, or ethnic heritage.

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Note: ISRV is an abbreviation/acronym which means: “INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE RESEARCH VERSION.” The INSTITUTE FOR SCRIPTURE

RESEARCH is an organization of Messianic believers based in South Africa. They have published an excellent version of the word of hwhy which is entitled “The Scriptures.” Our abbreviation, ISRV, refers to this version of the Scriptures. For those interested, their website address is:

http://www.isr-messianic.org/

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