The Custody Battle

God made Adam in Genesis. From Adam, all nations came to be. They spread out all over the world and settled and started tribes. When God said in the garden the promise that the Savior would crush the head of the serpent - that was a promise of Christ and that message was for all humanity that believed. Yet, as people spread out across the world, many rejected God and decided to engage in paganism and idol worship. Does that mean that God abandoned the promise that whomever should believe should be saved? Not at all.  

Adam was neither Jew or Gentile, and neither was Abraham 

Genesis 11:31 Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there

From Abraham is the promise of the line of Messiah that would come through Abraham's great grandson Judah. Abraham also had other sons after the death of his first wife. 

 Genesis 25: 1 Now Abraham took another wife, whose name was Keturah. 2 She bore to him Zimran and Jokshan and Medan and Midian and Ishbak and Shuah. 3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim.

One of these descendants of Abraham was Midian, who fathered the Midianites and the men of the east. Job is a descendant of Abraham and Job is a gentile. This isn't about Job, this is about gentiles and the picture that arises in these parallels. Abrahams grandson had sons that became the tribes of Israel. 

The first of the tribes is the line of which the Messiah came- Judah. 
The last of of the tribes which came from Joseph but Jacob adopted was - Ephraim 

Joseph when he was betrayed by his brothers ( like Christ was betrayed by His brothers in Judah) and went out as though dead ( like Christ literally died) was lifted up as God (like Christ who is God) and his brothers (Jews) did not recognize Joseph ( as Jews don't recognize Christ). Joseph had sons that looked different than the rest of Josephs brothers, Manasseh and Ephraim.  Jacob/ Israel ( representing the Father) is restored to them and when he sees the sons of Joseph ( Christ) he adopts them as his own. Of Israel/ Jacob the firstborn is Judah, and then last born would be Ephriam.

Why does that matter? What is its significance?  Lets look at something profound as it pertains after God led all of Israel out of Egypt and commanded them to take the promised land. Of ALL the spies sent, only two returned with full confidence in the LORD. Two spies, two men, Joshua- and Caleb. 

Joshua was Judah, which represents the Firstborn of the sons of Jacob/Israel. Caleb who was Ephraim- a gentile. Caleb was the son of Jephunneh, a Kenizzite.  Caleb, a Gentile, was grafted into Israel of the tribe of Ephraim by his faith.

The two spies that gave favorable report are Judah and Ephraim. Judah was first and Ephraim was the last. In Ezekiel 37:15-28  as cited below, we can see the subject is about the Savior taking the two sticks, Judah= Jews  and Ephraim = Gentiles and making them one in His hand and He being over them and ruling on the throne of David forever. Just as God brought a mixed multitude out of Egypt to dwell in Israel. These gentiles are part of Israel, part of the tribes, and not by natural birth but faith in God. 

The dynamic of   Jacob the father= Israel, His firstborn Judah= Jews, Joseph= the picture of Christ who was dead and then ascended to rule, Ephraim = the youngest who is looking like the nations but is the son of the one who was betrayed by his brothers - becomes adopted by the father Jacob/Israel , Ephraim is grafted in. 

Now I don't want anyone to be unaware of this, but through Christ alone, we are part of Israel through faith. 

Romans 10:12-13 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved

Romans 11:13-18 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. 15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? 16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, 18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you

Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

Ephesians 2:16-19 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

Acts 15:8-9 And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us; 9 and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith

Gentiles are part of Israel the same way Job was a gentile but was offering sacrifices, and called one of the holiest people ever. Gentiles are part of Israel the same way that the mixed multitude came out of Egypt and agreed at the base of Mount Sinai. Gentiles are part of Israel the same way Ephraim was a son of Jacob. 

Matthew 15:24 But He answered and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Now, read Matthew 20:1-16.

Matthew 20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and to those he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ And so they went. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he *said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day long?’ 7 They *said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He *said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard *said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last group to the first.’ 9 When those hired about the eleventh hour came, each one received a denarius. 10 When those hired first came, they thought that they would receive more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they grumbled at the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the scorching heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered and said to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what is yours and go, but I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with what is my own? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’ 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last.”

I want you to think about this statement about Gentiles and the first shall be last and the last shall be first. Judah is the one born first, but Ephraim is the one of preeminence at the time of regathering: 

Jeremiah 31:8 Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here. 9“With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.

The Jews and Gentiles in Christ are Israel. What does this mean because most of the tribes have been lost. They have been cut off. Aren't the tribes lost forever since they were cut of by genealogy? 

Ezekiel 37 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’”

15 The word of the Lord came again to me saying, 16 “And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, ‘For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions’; then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions.’ 17 Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. 18 When the sons of your people speak to you saying, ‘Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?’ 19 say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ 20 The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21 Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God.

24 “My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd; and they will walk in My ordinances and keep My statutes and observe them. 25 They will live on the land that I gave to Jacob My servant, in which your fathers lived; and they will live on it, they, and their sons and their sons’ sons, forever; and David My servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will place them and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in their midst forever. 27 My dwelling place also will be with them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people. 28 And the nations will know that I am the Lord who sanctifies Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forever.”’”

Christ has only come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. That is comprised of Jews and Gentiles. Gentiles are the stick of Joseph who looks like the nations. The Jews are the believing Jews who are the stick of Judah.  Christ unites us in His hand and He rules on the throne of David forever- and leads us INTO THE LAND WHERE HE DWELLS. When Adam sinned , mankind spread all over the earth in separation and forgot who they were and their purpose is to glorify God. In forgetting they became nations that forgot God and were destroyed in their unbelief. Yet, in God's grace, He has allowed those in the nations to hear the truth of restoration by Faith in Christ, and return from the grave where our identity was lost and scattered among the nations and Christ has made us ONE people again in His hands. Not based on heredity but based on Christ- the second Adam without sin. 

Remember who you are, Remember who your Father is. Do not let people defraud you or deny your identity as a son of God.  Gentiles aren't grafted into Judah, They're grafted into Israel 

 Matthew 9:16 But no one puts a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and a worse tear results. 17 Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wineskins burst, and the wine pours out and the wineskins are ruined; but they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

This suggests distinction of tribe, while unity of Israel. Our identity isn't in being Jewish, our identity is in Christ, and Christ makes us Israel, not us being Judah.