Good Morning.

With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel.  (Exodus 28:11)

The two shoham stones, worn on the shoulders of the High Priest, were both engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel — six names on one and six on the other — each, in similar fashion to how the showbread was arranged. It would be easy to gloss over this point and keep reading but let us consider the connection these two stones have with other points in the Scripture.

For starters consider the two stone tablets,  engraved with the Word of God, that were placed in Ark of the Covenant. Perhaps this connection is to remind us that, as His people, His Word must be engraved upon our hearts just as He engraved us upon His hand (Isaiah 49:16). Recall that when Israel entered the land, they were to set up stones upon Mount Ebal and write the words of the Law upon them for all to see. Again, this reminds us that the Word of God is to be written upon our hearts and that we are to be living epistles. 

Now my point, today, is this: being identified as God’s people is not determined exclusively by genealogy but is determined by whether or not one is willing to receive and then be transformed by His Word. Being born into the family called Israel doesn’t guarantee some one a place in the Kingdom — you might say that it’s not set in stone. However, anyone — native born or from the nations — who is born again through the Messiah (the Living Word) are invited to become part of the family. In other words, those who have respect for what He actually did set in stone are truly His people. These are the people who are truly represented on the shoham stones borne by our Heavenly High Priest and thus we are reminded that what He told the children of Israel at Sinai applies to us as well:

“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. And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:5-6)

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill 

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