Tend the Family Tree | Christianity's Jewish Family Tree

So far in the Tend the Fire series, we’ve done some creative exploration into: 1) an intimate “inner life” around the Spirit-Fire, 2) life as “cracked clay jars,”[i] displaying God’s Fire-light in dark moments and places, 3) consuming the Word and the Spirit as crave-worthy food and fuel for the heart and the journey, 4) the obedient walk of extravagant love, drawing people from low places and high places, to meet Jesus on level ground.

This last installment was meant to spark some creative contemplation on the subject of the spiritual family of God (the body, or bride, of Christ), and the Holy Spirit’s role and activity in/through her. However... this is the ideal place to reach back into my first article and pick up an unexplained, probably puzzling (especially to those near to me), comment I made there that pertains to this very thing – our spiritual family tree. So, I’m taking a break from my normal “truth-based imaginings” to hit a more serious note and unpack both what the mysterious comment meant, and how it impacts the telling of stories to come.

In my first article, A One-Legged Sojourner’s Tale,[ii] I described a “jolting” experience I had in 2020, as a result of being exposed to the work of a young, scholarly bunch of Jesus-chasers via their resource app.[iii] The gist of the story was that I was knocked completely off balance, my life-trajectory permanently altered – first, by the notoriously controversial subject-matter they were tackling, but more-so by the scholarly, exegetically faithful, non-sensational manner in which they were doing it. To the point, they were DEEP-diving into the most misread, misinterpreted, and/or entirely avoided portions of Scripture (the Prophets), tackling both eschatology[iv] and Israel’s place (family, nation, and location) in God’s unfolding kingdom plan.

(Though the family at Frontier Alliance International [FAI] has since been through some very dark and difficult days, and are even now fighting their way back to healthful thriving, I will forever be a loyal friend and supporter of them. I know what it is to pass through the valley of death and come out the other side stronger and more whole than when you went in. I’m grateful for their costly and beautiful offerings for Jesus, as well as their willingness to go anywhere and do anything for him, to the very end. “If you don’t quit, you win,” as Jeff Henderson says. Carry on, my dear friends.)

The statement I made was that, as a result of the above-described exposure, what I previously believed to be a fairly solid understanding of the overarching messages of the Bible was, frankly, proven to be “full of holes.” Before I explain what that means, I want to clarify what it didn’t mean.

I have a great deal of love, affection, respect, and gratitude for my Christian influences, pastors, and mentors. I love my church family. By that, I mean I looooooove my church family! As a believing adult, I’ve sat under two profoundly faithful and anointed pastors (the first of whom was my father), and have been privileged to “grow up” spiritually in a culture where a high value has been placed on careful study of the Bible and living out what it teaches. Those same leaders and their leadership teams have diligently sought to instill a sense of purposeful, responsible calling and commission into every person in our church family – equipping and scenting us with the aroma of love, generosity, selflessness, and a desire to reach into the world, near and far, with the message of love and life in Christ. Let me say it again: I LOVE my church family...

And still, I had holes. To put it in terms the apostle, Paul, would appreciate, I once (unconsciously) viewed myself (along with my spiritual siblings) to be wrapped tightly around the trunk of a great, old olive tree (the family tree of Abraham’s promise). And then, I was unexpectedly confronted with the fact that I’m actually a humble, little twig on a humble, little branch, and am truly blessed to be artificially grafted into the family tree, amongst its natural branches. Israel is Christianity's Jewish family tree.

In other words, the missing pieces in my biblical understanding had Israel stamped all over them. It wasn’t necessarily that I was missing good study practices or a commitment to learn and grow in knowledge. Rather: 

My incomplete biblical understanding was due, in large part, to the fact that I was viewing the Scriptures through a Western-American cultural lens, unaware.

That’s not a dig toward American Christianity.

The fact is that, in whatever place on the globe the Church exists, there will always be a culturally-shaped lens through which the Bible is read and interpreted; meaning that some elements of the biblical whole will be more, or less, visible than others, depending on the cultural context from which a person views it.[v]

Having said all of that, I have to be careful not to overstate my own, or anyone else’s, ignorance of Israel’s history and role. Within the Christian traditions and spheres of which I’ve been a part, generally speaking, we know the biblical stories of Israel’s history well. (Put most any of us on an episode of Jeopardy where every category is the Bible, and we will take the money home every time.)

We know Israel’s historical lineage, from Adam to Noah to Abraham (patriarch of the family/nation of God’s covenant people); from Abraham to Isaac to Jacob (later renamed Israel) to the twelve sons of Israel (patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel);[vi] Israel’s slavery in Egypt, the exodus, the wilderness journey, and entrance into the promised land;[vii] and generations unfolding over history from there. We’ve followed the split in the family tree after King Solomon’s death (the northern kingdom (Israel) and southern kingdom (Judah) breaking ties;[viii] Israel establishing an unsanctioned and unholy kingly line[ix]; the eventual destruction and exile of both kingdoms (Israel in 722 BC, Judah in 586 BC)[x], the Babylonian exiles’ return to Judah (circa 539 BC);[xi] the mixed race of northern Israel,[xii] and finally the diaspora in the 1st century AD.[xiii])

We know Israel’s messianic lineage and covenant promises: from Adam and Eve (a prophecy of enmity between the offspring of the woman and the serpent, the bruising of the former’s heel, and the crushing of the latter’s head)[xiv]; to Noah and to Shem[xv]; Abraham (patriarch and recipient of the covenant promise of blessing, innumerable descendants, future possession of the land of Canaan and  blessing of all nations through him); Isaac (child born of the promise and confirmed heir of the promises[xvi]); Jacob (confirmed heir of the promises, peoples and nations will serve him; later renamed Israel)[xvii]; to Judah (the family line through which the “righteous branch” would come)[xviii], to Tamar,[xix] Rahab,[xx] and Ruth,[xxi] to David (the king after God’s own heart, type of the coming eternal King, and recipient of the promise of an eternal throne through his royal family line[xxii]), through the centuries of kings of Judah, and ultimately, to Jesus.

We know the history of the covenants: Moses and the Israelites on Mount Sinai and the establishment of the “covenant of the law,”[xxiii] the ten commandments, and the expanded civil, ceremonial, and moral laws; [xxiv]  the tabernacle and sacrificial worship system;[xxv] and centuries of failure on Israel’s part to be faithful to the covenant.[xxvi] We’ve excelled in the knowledge of Jesus’ life and ministry, and the “covenant of grace,” sealed in his blood and entered into by faith in him.[xxvii] And finally, we’ve been strong in certain New Testament themes to which we most readily identify.

It's at about this point, in the complexity of New Testament apostolic thought and time-culture-distance challenges, where it’s easy to see how tempting it has been over the centuries, for so many, to springboard off of Jesus’ death and resurrection, enter into the new “covenant of grace” by faith, only to snatch the gift of the gospel message out of Jewish hands (acknowledging their rejection of it) and run with it. There’s reason to be confused about how Israel’s story unfolds from there.

Here and now, four years into the process of re-reading the Bible, (especially the Prophets, now for the 3rd time) with my Israel-conscious corrective lenses in place... I am still ridiculously far from mastery of this subject. However, I can confirm three things: 1) The biblical evidence for Israel’s eternal inclusion is abundant, seemingly disorganized, complicated, and requiring a serious depth of study, 2) reliance on trustworthy, scholarly resources to aid in historical/contextual understanding is necessary and wise,[xxviii] and 3) it’s glaringly clear that the promise-possessing, land-occupying Israel is inextricably intertwined, from beginning to end, in the unfolding kingdom plan.

For introductory biblical grounds, may I offer a few commonly applied passages to consider:

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles [non-Jews] in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit...

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Ephesians 2:11-22, 3:4-6 (emphases mine)

My emphasis on certain portions of the passage is merely to tease out a single thread that needs acknowledging. Paul is here affirming the continued presence of the “commonwealth of Israel” in the grace-by-faith body of Christ. Another teaching from the book of Romans (For brevity’s sake, I’ve condensed, but I encourage the reader to read Romans, chapters 9-11, on your own):

“I ask, then, has God rejected his people [Israel]? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew...

“...So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather, through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!...

“...But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you...

“...For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

“Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

“The Deliverer will come from Zion,he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;“and this will be my covenant with themwhen I take away their sins.”

As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

                                    Romans 11:1-2a, 11-12, 17-21, 24, 25-32 (emphases mine)

Again, emphases are to tease out a similar thread to the last one: Israel has not been rejected by God, but has been “partially hardened” until the full number of [non-Jewish] children-by-faith have been grafted into the natural family tree, prophesied to one day be completed by faith in Christ. And one more:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord,

when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah,

not like the covenant that I made with their fathers

on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt.

For they did not continue in my covenant,

and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, declares the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds,

and write them on their hearts,

and I will be their God,

and they shall be my people.

And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor

and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’

for they shall all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

For I will be merciful toward their iniquities,

and I will remember their sins no more.”

Hebrews 8:8-12, quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34 (emphasis mine)

In light of all of the above (I’ll be brief), the next logical questions are:

Why does this matter to us, the non-Jewish, grace-by-faith children of Abraham? Several immediate responses come to mind. 1) anyone who touches Israel touches the apple of God’s eye (Zechariah 2:8); 2) God has declared that he will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel (Genesis 12:3, 27:28-29); 3) “... to [Israel] belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever,” (Romans 9:4-5); 4) “...through their trespass salvation has come to [us], so as to make Israel jealous.” It would take a book to complete this list.

How is this relevant to us here and now?  I would say this: We can’t do anything about the Church’s culpability over the past 2,000 years in the Jews’ suffering of ostracization, persecution, and unending waves of violent atrocities.[xxix] But we can, are expected to, and are responsible to, respond to the current wave of persecution and violence coming over national Israel and Jews all over the world (the spirit of holocaust).

From the Hamas attack against Israel on October 7th, 2023 (in which the most heinous and barbaric acts were inflicted upon babies, children, women, elderly, or whomever was unfortunate enough to be in the path of annihilation); to captivity underground in unconscionable conditions (where 59 hostages remain to this day, fewer than 24 believed to be alive); to beatings, synagogue burnings, blocking from schools and universities, and harassment of families and children in major cities all over the world. As those the blessed in/through the Jews, coming to their aid and comfort is our responsibility first.

Lastly, the prophetic stage-lights are on the move in our time, driving Jews to gather in the land and pointing ever more intently toward Israel and the Middle-Eastern, North-African, Central Asian theatre in which all things prophetic have taken place in the past, and will take place in the future. I believe the biblical evidence shows that we, the Church, have an integral role to play in caring for Israel in her travails, while we endure our own, to give witness to the goodness and faithfulness of the Messiah in the midst of it all.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

                                                                                          Matthew 25:31-40

Tend the Family Tree.

Maranatha.

To be continued...

[i] 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

[ii] https://www.oneleggedsojourner.com/post/a-one-legged-sojourner-s-tale

[iii] Frontier Alliance International; FAI App, or Fai.online

[iv] A branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eschatology

[v] For a life-altering educational experience on this and other global-missions topics, please consider locating, and participating in, a nearby Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course.

[vi] Of the twelve sons of Jacob/Israel, Joseph remained in Egypt (Genesis 50:22) but his two sons were included in the twelve in Joseph’s place (Genesis 48:8-16); the tribe of Levi would be set apart for service in temple worship. The exchange of Ephraim and Manasseh for Levi and Joseph would complete the twelve land-allotted tribes of national Israel.

[vii] See Exodus and Joshua

1 Kings 12

[ix] See the books of the Kings and Chronicles

[x] Ibid.

[xi] See Ezra and Nehemiah

2 Kings 17:6, 24-40, 18:9

[xiii] Referring to the destruction of Jerusalem and scattering of the Jews in 70 AD.

[xiv] Genesis 3:14-15

[xv] See Genesis 9:18-27

[xvi] Genesis 26:2-5, 23-25

[xvii] Genesis 27:28-29; 35:10-12

[xviii] Genesis 49:10; Revelation 5:5

[xix]Genesis 38; 1 Chronicles 2:4; Matthew 1:3

[xx] Matthew 1:5

[xxi] See Matthew 1 for the genealogy of Jesus; see Joshua 2, 6:25, for Rahab’s story; see the book of Ruth for Ruth’s story; 

[xxii] 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Isaiah 11:1-5; Jeremiah 23:5-6

[xxiii] Exodus 23:20 – 24:18

[xxiv] See Leviticus and Deuteronomy 4 – 19

[xxv]Exodus 35:4 – 40:38

[xxvi] The book of the Kings and Chronicles; the Prophets

[xxvii] See the NT gospels

[xxviii] A few easily accessible, scholarly resources that support this view on Israel: The Apocalyptic Gospel podcast; Joel Richardson’s books and online resources (joelstrumpet.com, The Winepress, FAI Bible studies); Travis M. Snow books and resources (shilohmedia.org); First Fruits of Zion podcast and resources (ffoz.org)

[xxix] For a brief but scholarly history of antisemitism in the Church and Jewish persecution from the 1st century to today, I recommend When a Jew Rules the World, by Joel Richardson.