Good Morning.
In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.” (Genesis 32:7-8)
That Jacob — soon to be known as Israel — decided to divide into two camps was not only strategic for that situation but proves to be prophetic in nature as well. Then, “Israel” was divided in order to survive the expected attacks from Esau (also known as Edom). If he had attacked one group, he would have been unaware that there was another group who had escaped.
Centuries later, Israel was divided into two camps or kingdoms — the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah (1 Kings 11:29-32, 12:16-17, 22-24). Apparently, this division suited God’s purposes and one has to wonder if it wasn’t, in part, due to the fact that Edom would continually threaten Israel’s existence wherever they were.
It is also important to point out that life begins with division – a single cell divides in two cells initiating the formation of a body. You might say that its impossible to have a mature body without that kind of division. It would have impossible to propagate life unless God had separated the rib from Adam from which He made the Woman. So as I said, Jacob’s decision to divide his group into two camps served a practical purpose and, simultaneously, established a pattern for what would occur to Israel in the future.
However, it was always intended that the two camps would reunite and become one after the threat had passed. I would argue that this also what God has intended for His people at large. There will come a day when those who call upon the God of Israel — whether they are regarded as “Circumcision” or “Uncircumcision” will be joined together as one people (Ephesians 2:11-19). This reunification is, in fact, one of the primary reasons Messiah came to die (John 11:45-52). In other words, though He may cause division it is always with life in mind and the expectation that those who have been divided will be reunited.
If God has allowed separation in your life, take the time to consider what has developed out of that separation: has it been fruitful and conducive to a closer walk with Him? If so, then expect that, in His time and according to His purpose, reconciliation and restoration may occur. He is about life, and thus, mending that which has been torn is His nature and it is His promise to His faithful servants. Restoration will come!
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
During and after all those thoughts about walking in the footsteps of the Messiah in your Daily Bread post from today, Oct 7, back in the distance of my memory I kept hearing that was the name of a book I read. It just dawned on me that during the time before 2009 in my ongoing search of trying to understand Biblical prophecy, I read a book called, The Footsteps of the Messiah by Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum. It was also somewhere back in that time frame that I had read your book, Enmity Between the Seeds.
Picking up your book again, and flipping thru it, from pages 99 to 103 I’ve highlighted, underlined, circled and put question marks where you wrote that we are identified as Israel. So, when I heard you were going to that prophecy conference in 2009, I had to go. And thanks to you, as you started me down this path, I now see myself as part of the family called Israel