Identity of Israel - Part Two: Who are the Foreigners of Israel?
Israel and the Stranger
Let's delve deeper into the notion that the doors of Israel have always remained open to righteous Gentiles seeking citizenship. God has made it clear in His word that the intended framework of the nation of Israel was the inclusion of all individuals who wholeheartedly aligned with God's ways. Within this framework, Gentile individuals, demonstrating a profound faith and love for God and unwavering obedience to His precepts retained the opportunity to seamlessly integrate into the fabric of the Israelite nation. This inclusive ethos becomes apparent in the narrative of the mixed multitude departing from Egypt, as chronicled in the book of Exodus—a diverse group that was universally recognized as an integral component of Israel's identity.
Exodus 12:38
37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children.
38 A mixed multitude went up with them (Israel) also, and flocks and herds--a great deal of livestock.
The significance of this passage lies in the inclusion of those who joined the Hebrews during their exodus from Egypt. These individuals are regarded as integral parts of Israel and the initial instances of successful grafting into the community.
Exodus 12:48-49
48 And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.
49 One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you."
Exodus 20:10 (Sabbath)
10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
Exodus 14:19-20
19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.
20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.
In these verses, the term "camp of Israel" collectively encompasses both the native Israelites and the mixed multitude that journeyed with them.
Inclusion Was Always the Intention
The principle of inclusion of foreigners becomes even more obvious when considering the authentic structure of Israel as intended by God. In such a system, the gateway for righteous Gentiles remained wide open—a testament to the universal nature of God's grace and His desire for a united assembly of faithful followers. The essential criteria were not based on lineage, ethnicity, or background, but rather on a genuine commitment to the practice of walking in God's righteousness.
Numbers 15:13-16
13 All who are native-born shall do these things in this manner, in presenting an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.
14 And if a stranger dwells with you, or whoever is among you throughout your generations, and would present an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord, just as you do, so shall he do.
15 One ordinance shall be for you of the assembly and for the stranger who dwells with you, an ordinance forever throughout your generations; as you are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord.
16 One law and one custom shall be for you and for the stranger who dwells with you.
The Hebrew term for “stranger” is ger, which essentially means a person from a foreign or distant land (H1616). To seamlessly integrate as a member of the Israelite nation, a foreigner was required to adhere to the same divine laws stipulated in the covenant. It's noteworthy that these foreigners were even granted the privilege of participating in worship gatherings at the Tabernacle, underscoring the inclusive nature of Israel's spiritual community.
God's original intention was to foster unity rather than division between foreigners and native-born Israelites. This unity was predicated on the shared commitment of both groups to adhere to the same covenant principles.
Leviticus 16:29-30 (Atonement)
29 "This shall be a statute forever for you: In the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and do no work at all, whether a native of your own country or a stranger who dwells among you.
30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the Lord.
Deuteronomy 16:10-11 & 14 (Shavuot)
10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the Lord your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the Lord your God blesses you.
11 You shall rejoice before the Lord your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your gates, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow who are among you, at the place where the Lord your God chooses to make His name abide.
14 And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant and the Levite, the stranger and the fatherless and the widow, who are within your gates.
Deuteronomy 29:9-13
9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant, and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.
10 "All of you stand today before the Lord your God: your leaders and your tribes and your elders and your officers, all the men of Israel,
11 your little ones and your wives--also the stranger who is in your camp, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water--
12 that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God, and into His oath, which the Lord your God makes with you today,
13 that He may establish you today as a people for Himself, and that He may be God to you, just as He has spoken to you, and just as He has sworn to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Unsurprisingly, even strangers or foreigners within the community are regarded as part of the people whom God claims as His own. This divine inclusion is marked by God's declaration, "that you may enter into covenant with the Lord your God," signifying that those addressed in this passage are recognized as God's people as long as they faithfully uphold His covenant and follow His decrees. The foreigners who draw near to God are considered part of Israel. This becomes even more evident when examining how God’s Holy Day celebrations hold equal regulations for both foreigners and native-born Israelites. The expectations for both parties are one and the same.
Deuteronomy 29:14-15
14 "I make this covenant and this oath, not with you alone,
15 but with him who stands here with us today before the Lord our God, as well as with him who is not here with us today
The covenant and oath that God established weren't limited to those present there at that moment but also extended to all who were not physically there. However, for the context of this article, it is crucial to emphasize that the covenant was with all the people who were present, irrespective of their ethnicity.
In Defense of the Stranger
Isaiah 56:2-3
2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the Lord Speak, saying, "The Lord has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree."
Isaiah 56:4-8
4 For thus says the Lord: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant,
5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.
6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants-- Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant--
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him."
Isaiah 56:2-8 unequivocally underscores God's intention of inclusion, spanning beyond borders and ethnicity even before the advent of Jesus. This passage celebrates those who diligently observe the Sabbath and adhere to God's covenant, regardless of their origin. The text resonates with the sons of the foreigner who unite with the Lord, serving Him, loving His name, and safeguarding the sanctity of the Sabbath. In a resounding affirmation of divine acceptance, these individuals are promised a place and name within God's dwelling, surpassing even that of sons and daughters. This promise extends to foreigners in the land, to the outsiders, and encompasses all nations. God's house is envisioned as a universal sanctuary, embracing all who seek Him. This profound inclusivity encapsulates the heart of God's plan since time immemorial.
Hosea 2:18-23
18 In that day I will make a covenant for them With the beasts of the field, With the birds of the air, And with the creeping things of the ground. Bow and sword of battle I will shatter from the earth, To make them lie down safely.
19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;
20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord.
21 "It shall come to pass in that day That I will answer," says the Lord; "I will answer the heavens, And they shall answer the earth.
22 The earth shall answer With grain, With new wine, And with oil; They shall answer Jezreel.
23 Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, And I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; Then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!' "
1 Peter 2:10
Once you were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Romans 9:25-28
25 As He says also in Hosea: "I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved."
26 "And it shall come to pass in the place where it was said to them, 'You are not My people,' There they shall be called sons of the living God."
27 Isaiah also cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, The remnant will be saved.
28 For He will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness, Because the Lord will make a short work upon the earth."
These passages illuminate the profound concept that individuals, once estranged from God's covenant, have the opportunity to become part of His chosen people. It is a testament to God's expansive grace, revealing His longing for all to be united under His divine plan.
Hosea, 1 Peter, and Romans collectively unveil a slightly different narrative of inclusion than previous verses, one that allows knowledge of the God of Israel to transcend cultural boundaries. These verses converge to depict the plight of foreigners who were initially not part of God’s intricate design, not due to any limitation in their ability to enter into a covenant with God, but primarily because they were not yet familiar with the profound truths of the God of Israel and His divine laws.
The call to proclaim the gospel to all corners of the world is intricately woven into God's overarching plan from the beginning, as underscored in the divine blueprint outlined within the pages of Hosea 2.
Mark 16:15
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Psalm 96:3
Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
The Same Laws & Warnings Apply
It's important to note that being native to the land or the extension of inclusiveness to foreigners did not negate the need for adherence to God's divine governance. If Israel were operating harmoniously under God's ordained order, deliberate transgressions of His commandments would inevitably lead to exclusion from the nation. The unity of Israel was preserved by the collective dedication to God's statutes, and any intentional violation of this covenant would disrupt the integrity of the community, and at times, cause expulsion for both natives and foreigners, as outlined in Deuteronomy 28.
Leviticus 24:22
22 You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.' “
49 One law shall be for the native-born and for the stranger who dwells among you."
50 Thus all the children of Israel did; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.
Joshua 8:34-35
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them.
Hebrews 4:1-2
1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.
2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them (Israel who left Egypt); but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
The expectation placed upon God's people, spanning across the times of Moses and extending into the present, remains consistent in its core: a fusion of faith and obedience. Astonishingly, this requisition echoes the past, wherein only a select few managed to fulfill it. Moreover, the notion of the "gospel," representing the path to salvation, was extended to all (past and present) who not only heard God's word but actively walked in accordance with His divine principles.
Hebrews 3:14-19
14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,
15 while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses?
17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness?
18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
The process of entering physical Israel in ancient times was founded upon faith, just as the entry into the New Jerusalem upon Christ's Second Coming demands faith today. The unchanging expectation of upholding our commitment to the covenant stands as a constant thread from the days of Moses to the present. The pathway to securing citizenship within God's Israel remains unaltered, spanning across time with its unvarying requirements.
The Same Promise
At its core, being part of Israel has consistently revolved around a shared commitment to God's rules and genuinely following His divine plan. This idea has echoed throughout time, confirming that a united community, built on faith and steadfast obedience, is what truly defines the Israel that God had in mind. Please consider the following scriptures in relation to this topic:
Ephesians 2:18-19
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
The call to obedience and the identity of God's people remain unaltered. Our connection to Israel is founded upon belief and steadfast adherence to God’s commands. This echoes the language spoken during the very genesis of Israel. The promise bestowed upon God's people, Israel, stands consistent through the ages, reaching back to the time of Israel's wandering in the wilderness when it was first established.
We can draw a parallel here – a parallel between the Ephesians' journey and the righteous foreigners highlighted in Isaiah 56. While the latter were already righteous followers of God, the Ephesians were once foreigners, utterly unaware of the God of Israel. However, as they embrace a new understanding and a deep desire to walk in faithful accordance with God's ways, the Ephesians are not just welcomed but proclaimed as fellow citizens. This proclamation symbolizes their grafting into the lineage of Israel.
Exodus 19:6
And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 19:5-6
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
1 Peter 2:9-10
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10 Once you were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
The term "holy nation" in this context refers to God's Israel, encompassing all those who will be resurrected, whether grafted in or born within. It includes anyone who turns away from darkness, embraces the light of God's ways, and places their belief in Jesus.
Romans 10:12-13
11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.
13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
The annals of history bear witness to God's unwavering intention to form a community united not just by bloodlines, but by shared allegiance to His principles and a profound faith. This principle echoes through the ages, from the mixed multitude that left Egypt to the righteous foreigners mentioned in Isaiah 56, and right into the words of Christ and the teachings of the apostles. Through their obedience and faith, individuals, whether native-born Israelites or grafted-in Gentiles, attain a special citizenship within God's Israel, a citizenship not defined solely by heritage, but by a commitment to God's ways.
As the New Testament draws the curtain on this grand narrative, it reveals a continuation rather than a divergence. The Church, often seen as a distinct entity, is in fact the living embodiment of God's Israel, where Jew and Gentile stand on equal ground through faith. The term "ekklesia," used to describe both Israel in the Old Testament and the followers of Jesus in the New Testament, signifies a seamless continuation of God's chosen people.
In essence, the journey through God's Israel has always been marked by an open invitation. The doors have never been shut to righteous Gentiles seeking inclusion, echoing the same call that resounded in the Exodus and through the ages. As the pages of history turn, we see that God's intention was, is, and will always be for a diverse yet united community, bound together by faith, obedience, and love.
In this understanding, the distinction between the Church and God's Israel fades, revealing a harmonious unity that stretches back to the days of Abraham, intertwining the Old and the New. From the mixed multitude to the Ephesians, from Isaiah's proclamation to the Apostle's teachings, the message is clear: God's Israel is a lineage, woven not just by blood, but by shared devotion, irrespective of origin.