The Old Testament: The Schoolmaster

There are many things we already know about the Old Covenant that allowed us to understand the spirituality of the New Testament. However, the Lord has once again removed the veil which cloaked His plan for man, in the pages of Israel's history.

Deuteronomy 32:7-9

7 Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee.

8 When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.

9 For the Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.

The "nations" always refers to all but Israel or the Gentile nations of the world. According to the passage above, the Lord separated the nations of the earth, keeping in mind the territory He had already planned to give to Israel before Israel ever existed as a nation. Even as Noah and his sons descended from the ark, the Lord had already planned to use the provocation of Nimrod in the building of the tower of Babel. to scatter the people that they would form nations and languages upon the face of the earth. Nevertheless, the habitation of all was determined by the number of the children of Israel, who at that time was not a nation. Canaan was the grandson of Noah, and the son of Ham, who dishonored Noah by looking upon his nakedness while Noah was drunk.

However, when Noah was told what Ham had done, he cursed Canaan, Ham's first born. Now Canaan settled in the part of the earth that was to be the Promised Land. Canaan and his 11 sons were chosen to occupy the land of Canaan until the nation of Israel was ready to possess it as an everlasting possession. The Father wants us to see this historical event as a type of the plight of the church. The world is the land of Canaan and the people of the world (sinners and haters of all that is holy) are depicted by the Canaanites. They will also occupy the earth in power and authority until the fullness of time has come. It is then that they will be displaced and many destroyed. The Sons of God will then inherit the earth as an everlasting possession. They will rule and reign with Jesus. Now we could stop there, but there is a deeper happening here. The Father has unveiled more of the mystery of the Church. Note that all history of the Old Covenant points to Christ. He was to be the destiny of the nation of Israel. However, it is more accurate to say He was to be the destiny of all who are righteous and called according to the election of God.

Ephesians 2:11-22

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Do not read the above scripture with the idea that the Church was an afterthought. The nation of Israel was raised up to establish the kinsmanship of Christ to man. But those who are a part of the Church were chosen by the election and predestination of God to be in Christ before the foundation of the world was laid. He died for the sins of the world. This includes Jew and Gentile. The objective was to make "one new man." This is the mystery that was hidden in the Father. It is unthinkable. How is it possible to make all who believe "one?" This literally means all the languages, customs, cultures, ideas, aspirations, race, financial and social differences are of none effect. The nations of the earth can have one mind, one heart, one purpose and one God. The partition between us has been destroyed. God has answered the Gethsemane prayer:

St. John 17:22

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

This is the reality the Church has refused to embrace. But it is also the reality the Father has chosen to revisit.

The heart of the Father is for us to truly see the plan that was devised by the counsel of His own will. Listen to the testimony of Jesus:

Psalm 139:14-16

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (My body is not hidden from you. You made it in secret. It is curious or peculiar, having been formed in the lowest ones.)

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, (you saw my body) yet being unperfect; (before it was made perfect), and in thy book all my members were written, (all their names were written in your book of life) which in continuance were fashioned, (therefore you continued to fashion them) when as yet there was none of them. (before you ever laid the foundations of the earth. They were made in eternity past before time ever made them manifest.)

Indeed, how wonderful are the works of the Lord. It is a privilege to receive understanding from Him. We are in the deep thoughts of God. Even before time began we were in His thoughts. In the 18 years of learning the Word of God, Jesus was given a revelation of the mystery of God. He saw the 'Body' God had prepared Him. He saw the Father take the base things of this world and form a marvelous work, for we are indeed the workmanship of His hands. He made us the bone of Christ’s bone and the flesh of His flesh. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. And the day will come when the saints of God will stand before the throne of grace and declare the awesomeness of His work.

Revelation 15:3

And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

EMBRACE THE TRUTH! We are the Body of Christ. We are one in mind and purpose. We are the righteousness of God manifested in the earth. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad!