Following Christ-Rediscovering the Jewish Faith of Jesusಮಾದರಿ

Day 10: Israelites and Others

Yesterday, we talked about how God gave His people the Ten Commandments and other instructions by speaking to Moses. It’s easy for us to assume that the only people present at Mount Sinai were the descendants of Jacob, or the children of Israel. While it is true that they composed most of the group, interestingly, there were quite a few other people who left Egypt with them!

Exodus 12:38 states that “Many other people went up with them.” Some scholars think that these were people living in Egypt who had converted to Judaism. After observing the plagues and the way Israel was protected from them, many Egyptians put their faith in the God of Israel. However, an established method for converting to Judaism was not developed until the second temple period, so these people traveled with Israel—and worshiped and obeyed Israel’s God, but they were not, in fact, Israelites!

This is reinforced by many passages of scripture that say that the rules were the same for the native-born and for the alien. (cf. Exodus 12:49; Numbers 15:15-16) There would be no reason for making this clarification unless there were a significant number of “aliens” living among them. And so there were.

There are notable later examples of these “aliens” or “foreigners” that joined themselves to God’s people. Rahab and Ruth come to mind. Rahab was from Canaan and Ruth was from Moab, but they both embraced Israel’s God and attached themselves to the people of Israel. Ruth told Naomi, “Your people will be my people and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) Both of these women were foreigners, and both were ancestors of King David, and thus of the Messiah.

This should be very encouraging to those of us who are Gentile followers of Jesus. From the beginning, God’s plan included non-Israelites along with His people. We tend to think of this plan starting with Jesus and His followers, but it was in place much earlier.

As mentioned yesterday, Paul used the metaphor of wild olive branches grafted into a cultured Jewish olive tree (Israel). We, who are the wild branches, are nurtured by the root of the tree, the God of Israel as well as His instructions to His people. Praise God for being willing to include us from the beginning.

Reflection

God had a plan to open salvation to all people from the foundation of the world itself. He slowly and carefully executed that plan, which culminated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s timing is impeccable—never late and never early. Today, we are part of His plan to show forth His glory, and invite those around us to know Him. What’s one way you can do that?

Rahab had to stand against everyone around her to choose to follow God. The Israelites were regarded as enemies, and yet Rahab was wise enough to recognize the spies for who they really were: God’s emissaries. Counter to her culture, she showed her faith in the God of Israel by hiding the spies and guiding them. We need to be prepared to take a countercultural stand as well.

Rahab was also a prostitute—hardly a fact one proudly mentions when recounting their lineage, but Rahab was considered righteous by God for choosing Him above all else. And Scripture is not ashamed to mention her! In fact, the Bible pointedly does so in more than one place in the New Testament. Rahab showed remarkable courage. Have you ever needed to be a dissenting voice in a crowd? If so, write about that.

Ruth pleaded with Naomi to take her with her back to Israel. It was the love Naomi showed Ruth that convinced her to choose Naomi’s God. This is just one example of how love works in the Bible. Can you think of another?