Being an Israelite in ancient times had both advantages and challenges. The Israelites were among the first monotheists, worshipping a single god, Yahweh. This strong religious identity provided a sense of unity and purpose, under religious legacy. This moulded them into an extraordinary religious and ethical legacy, including foundational texts like the Hebrew Scriptures, influencing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
In Israelite society, a clear social hierarchy was evident, marked by laws and customs that emphasized social justice and assistance for the disadvantaged. Land ownership was frequently passed down through family lines, with kinship ties being crucial in social interactions, dispute resolution, and economic dealings. Primarily, the Israelites faced political challenges.
In the early years of the monarchy, conflicts arose between the tribes and the state, leading to divisions and instability. After Solomon’s death, these divisions caused ten tribes to leave Jerusalem and establish their own kingdom under Jeroboam. The historical narrative of the Israelites reveals a recurring tendency to stray from established laws, which ultimately resulted in a separation from God. This pattern stemmed from a human inclination to prioritize self-interest over the well-being of others.
The Israelites also faced invasions and exiles from powerful empires such as the Assyrians and Babylonians. Women had limited public roles, and their experiences varied significantly depending on their communities and the historical period. Overall; being an Israelite meant being part of a unique and influential civilization with a rich cultural and religious heritage. All of this, while confronting significant political and social challenges.
The nation of Israel consisted of physical humans expected to be governed by God’s laws. The story of the Israelites highlights humanity’s struggle to connect with the divine. It illustrates the challenges physical humans face, in remaining committed to God’s laws, even when aware of them. This challenge arises from the nature of the physical body, which tends to seek more for itself rather than sharing with others. Without receiving, a physical person often feels threatened.
Good and evil are fundamental concepts that help define what it means to be human. Evil is often linked to the difficult conditions of the world, while goodness is associated with divine qualities. When people share, they seek acknowledgement to gain positive feelings in return. In their physical existence, humans often pursue comfort through food, sex, and alcohol, typically preferring to receive rather than share. Competition is another aspect that adds life interest; the goal is to live, outperform others, and gain admiration. From this perspective, the Promised Land was indeed a blessing for the descendants of Abraham.
Living under the guidance of divine authority comes with certain challenges, particularly the requirement to adhere to God’s Laws. These laws do not always align with the physical world. To lead a comfortable life, strictly observing those laws was essential, nevertheless. Prosperity accompanies adherence, while violations lead to significant difficulties. As long as individuals obey God’s Laws, they remain under His protection; however, when they violate these Laws, they fall under a curse. Chapter 28 of Deuteronomy is entirely devoted to outlining the conditions for keeping these Laws.
The story of the Israelites is that of a people who received God’s blessings, to be envied by other nations. But the reverse was true if they disobeyed God. They would suffer mistreatment at the hands of the nations they once dominated as a consequence of defying God. From an analytical perspective, can it be concluded that the Israelites had an advantage over other nations? Those other nations could also have their land randomly taken over by the Israelites. However, they confidently believed they were living freely, intentionally steering clear of the curse that comes from disobeying God’s laws.
The same nations would then be used to punish Israel if they strayed from the statutes of the Lord. On the surface, there seemed to be a balance between God’s people and the Gentiles. God appeared to have a compassionate heart for the Israelites; however, the Israelites could not find peace with God as long as they pursued freedom from God’s laws. The story of the Israelites is well-documented in the books of the Old Testament. Before we delve into the topic at hand, let us first consider the effect of the Covenant as affecting the two kingdoms that emerged after Solomon’s reign. The Kingdom of Israel was short-lived, adhering to the belief that deviation from God leads to increased suffering.
In contrast, the Jewish Kingdom outlasted its northern neighbour, whose historical features were a mixture of both good and bad leaders. Being associated with Jerusalem, the Jews were inclined towards upholding their religious customs, including Sabbath observance. The recurring pattern of righteous and wicked rulers marked the existence of their history. Prosperity followed when a leader was devoted to godliness, while a turn towards evil and abandonment of divine laws led towards declining. The behaviour of both the Israelites and the Jews was typical of physical humans. While adherence to God’s Laws granted relief, the inclination towards sin always existed. It didn’t matter whether one was a Jew or an Israelite.
The Bible describes the Israelites as a stiff-necked people. However, this criticism should not be interpreted as suggesting that any other nation could have performed better than the Israelites. Every human being embodies a mix of good and evil, and among people worldwide, there are both good and bad individuals. Similarly, there are good and bad nations, which often depend on whether the rule of law governs the behaviour of their citizens. It is easy to recognize the goodness in capable leaders compared to ineffective leaders, whose actions often lead to problems. The Israelites played a crucial role in paving the way for the arrival of the Messiah, bringing the true light of salvation to humanity.
Upon Jesus’ arrival, the Jews had all along preserved the prophetic scriptures, aligning His coming with those prophecies. Jesus’ adversaries should not necessarily be regarded as notorious sinners but as identifying with the common cultural norms of that era. The four Gospels, which narrate Jesus’ life, depict His earthly journey as challenging, often conflicting with the religious authorities. However, the Scriptures show that the Jewish behavior was God’s doing. It would be unwise to condemn the Jews as uncouth for their obstinacy; they exhibited typical human behaviour, including a supposedly fervent adherence to the law.
“I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!
“For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
“For if the first fruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you” (Romans 11:11-18 NKJV).
The above-highlighted Scripture appears to imply that Gentiles, not bound by the Old Covenant, might have an advantage over Israel. They are spared the intricacies of adhering to the Law and are embraced as God’s children. This is notwithstanding their conditions of sinfulness outside the confines of the Jewish traditions. Yet, before addressing the notion of perceived favouritism, it’s vital to acknowledge that God regards all humans equally. No individual is deemed superior or inferior to another. Those who achieve the distinction of being among the first fruits bear the duty of aiding those not yet saved.
Living among the sinners of this world, Jesus was not accorded the comfort that might have been expected. He explicitly declared that His purpose was not to be served, but to serve, as stated in Matthew 20:28. Instead of seeking an honourable status, Jesus took upon Himself the burden of humanity’s sins. This act of service was exemplified when He was juxtaposed with the infamous criminal Barabbas, in a decision over who deserved death. The crowd chose Jesus to die. Often, those who honour Jesus may not realize that their actions could conflict with His teachings. However, the Bible refers to Jesus as the first of the first fruits.
But now Christ has risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ, all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first fruits, afterwards those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:20-18 NKJV).
Here lies the ultimate paradox. In His earthly mission, Jesus took on the role of the least of the slaves among humanity. In this modest state, He received the divine honour to reign until all were put under His feet. However, Scripture suggests that His reign began among His brethren, who will be recognized with Him in the first resurrection (Revelations 20:4). The world views Him as the insignificant servant of all, while His brethren, submitting to His authority, acknowledge Him as Lord. The deep mystery is that Jesus in His earthly life, served all. This is how He was granted supreme authority over all. His brethren do the same. Meanwhile, the revered Bishops, secure in their worldly esteemed positions, remain oblivious to this reality.
How could assuming the role of a servant have applied to Jesus, who was not under the curse of sin? How is it beneficial for His followers, expected to emulate Him, when they endure the worst treatment in this sinful world? How was it advantageous for the Israelites, burdened with the law, yet last in God’s Kingdom? In His profound teachings, Jesus often emphasized that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. These words may seem insignificant to those of this world, but to those whom God reaches, they suggest a transformative attitude among believers.
“Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—“Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:20-23 NKJV).
Death is often considered the most feared phenomenon among humans. It raises the question: how can someone who has embraced death through Christ still fear it while professing to be a Christian? The harsh truth is that one cannot enjoy the benefits of a physical life and be with Christ simultaneously. Christ did not expect to be recognized as Lord by physical humans. Reflect on the dishonour of a security officer striking His face in front of a sinful world (John 18:22). How can someone profess to follow Christ yet be reluctant to bear the same disgrace that Jesus faced? In reality, only a few can truly acknowledge Jesus as Lord. The requirements of Christianity are too overwhelming for those, deeply attached to the material world.
There is a belief that being a descendant of Israel carries specific benefits. Some may take pride in this heritage, sometimes at the expense of other ethnic groups. Yet, this idea is based on a misunderstanding. While the descendants of Abraham were promised material wealth, the core tenets of Christianity stress the renunciation of worldly possessions, viewing them as inconsequential. Jesus championed this viewpoint, especially for those seeking to be part of the so-called first fruits. The significance of Christianity should not be considered trivial.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
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