Mark Huey of Outreach Israel Ministries delivers the following message, “The Blessings of Echad,” as we reflect upon some of our family’s experiences attending a Messianic Jewish conference, where Jewish and non-Jewish Believers were united as one new man.
A number of years ago, our family had the privilege to participate in a regional gathering of like-minded brethren from Jewish and non-Jewish backgrounds, who came together to praise and worship the Holy One of Israel in spirit and truth. After many years of attending a variety of Messianic-oriented conferences, convocations, and Biblical feasts, we would have to attest that for the first time in a number of years, much of the spiritual tension we had discerned and observed in the past, was not evident at this gathering. Instead, there was an overwhelming spirit of love, unity, peace, and genuine brotherhood that uniquely centered on the “one new man (humanity)” message communicated by the Apostle Paul:
“For He is our peace, who made both groups one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, the religious Law of commandments in dogmas, that He might create in Himself the two into one new humanity, so making peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the enmity by it. And HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR OFF, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR [Isaiah 57:19; 52:; Zechariah 9:10]; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Messiah Yeshua Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:14-22, PME).
Tangible evidence that these words penned by Paul almost two thousand years ago were noticeably being manifested by the mixed multitude congregated, was truly something to behold. After all, during our Messianic walk of faith, we have listened to numerous messages on—and even written multiple times about—these powerful words used to describe the blessed unity our Heavenly Father desires for Jewish and non-Jewish followers of the Messiah Yeshua to build upon. Clearly, Believers from all nations and backgrounds are to be considered “fellow citizens of God’s household,” and come together by being focused on Him, as the Rock and Cornerstone of the assembly the Holy One is drawing together. For once in far too long, we experienced the blessing of echad, perhaps best represented by the words of the Psalmist:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1, NASU).
Paradoxically, for reasons one can attribute to the ungodly influences of the world, the flesh (1 John 2:16), and the enemy of our souls, the Adversary (1 Peter 5:8), unity and love toward one another among the brethren has not been a great hallmark of too much of the Messianic community of faith. Despite Paul’s statements quoted above, that the dividing wall of enmity between the Jewish people and the nations was torn down by the blood atonement of Yeshua the Messiah, unsavory barriers have existed. Even Yeshua’s own exhortation to His Disciples that “by this [agapē love] all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35, NASU), such has not always been met with unconditional love among those in Messianic environments. Nevertheless, despite these categorical declarations, differences of opinion have retained the ability to keep faithful Jewish and non-Jewish people divided. This should not be the case.
Remarkably, for the first time in nearly two decades of pursuing a Messianic lifestyle, we experienced a level of maturity by followers of the Messiah that was quite refreshing and encouraging. It was almost like the majority of people in attendance understood the blessing of coming together in unity around the Messiah, regardless of heritage, background, gender, race, or bloodlines. As a result, there was genuine appreciation and respect for different spiritual gifts, talents, abilities, and unique callings without any jealousy or animosity. Recognizing this attitude confirmed in our hearts that there was hope for a future restoration of Israel, that all the Prophets foresaw and foretold in their prophecies (Acts 3:19-21).
The historical controversies that have plagued the ability of God’s people to be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6), since the resurrection of Yeshua and the First Century, are too many to number. Consequently, the place on the Judeo-Christian religious spectrum where the two adherents (Judaism and Christianity) to the foundational teachings of the Tanakh (Genesis to 2 Chronicles/Malachi) come together and overlap, is where the greatest friction exists. The age old-enmity between Jew and Gentile, noted by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians, and in other places like Romans chs. 9-11, has seemed irreconcilable despite claims by recognized leaders in the Messianic community of faith that they are born again followers of the Lord. The inevitable rub of who is right and who is wrong when it comes to interpreting and defining Messianic theology, has persistently been a fertile ground for influential voices to directly or indirectly sow discord, strife, and division. Lamentably, those ancient generational issues of contention are exploited by some—whether knowingly or subliminally influenced by personal selfish ambition (James 3:14-16). Or, this may be the result of a lack of spiritual maturity, or perhaps worse: the absence of a heart of flesh truly occupied by the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
However, from our limited perspective at this specific gathering, an air of mutual appreciation and acceptance appeared to permeate the milieu primarily because the overwhelming focus was on the enduring work of the Messiah. Many of those divisive obstructionist barriers that have existed for far too long, were not visibly noticeable, or even discernible. If nothing else, the ancient dividing wall that was literally opaque for centuries prior to the sacrifice of the Messiah, was no longer an invisible impediment in the minds and hearts of the attendees. The surreptitiously concocted spiritual barrier between the Jew and non-Jew, that for nearly two millennia has been like a translucent fog distorting the Lord’s desired unity among His people, was gone. In its place there was a more transparent, loving appreciation, for the unique aspects of brothers and sisters united in the Messiah of Israel. There was a noticeable awareness, voiced in different ways in many of the messages conveyed, that the dividing wall between Jew and non-Jew had been abolished. Without openly declaring these truths, there seemed to be an innate knowledge among the speakers that any dividing wall was really a part of some clever, deceptive “speculation” that had to be destroyed or refused, as noted in these statements from the Apostle Paul:
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Messiah” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5, NASU).
“But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels” (2 Timothy 2:23, NASU).
We now eagerly await the next developmental stage to increased unity in the Messiah, when those with the spiritual eyes to see—despite the challenges of looking through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12)—will ultimately recognize that to everyone in the Messiah, there is absolutely no barrier at all. Any perceived dividing wall has simply been a figment of manipulated imaginations which have been duped by the worthy adversaries that consist of the world, the flesh, and the Evil One.
As it happened in typical conference programs, the weekend moved from message to message building up to a crescendo at the final evening session. Invariably during the course of the previous general session talks, each of the speakers and even praise and worship leaders, mentioned in some manner or form, the wonderful reality of unity among the brethren best represented by “one new man (humanity)” references. Needless to say, the repetitious theme seemingly orchestrated by the Holy Spirit was incredibly inspiring to witness. Ultimately, I was particularly blessed when the concluding keynote speaker (a respected elderly non-Jewish man of God, who has served the Lord for sixty years, and spoke at the gathering for the final day afternoon and evening sessions) was prompted by the Holy Spirit to read Isaiah 54:1-8. During the course of his remarks, without necessarily aware of what had been declared throughout the weekend, he categorically affirmed in a profound way the work of Jew and Gentile to work together to accomplish the purposes of the Holy One of Israel. In listening to this passage of Scripture, it was like the Word of God was in many ways summarizing what had just been communicated and absorbed over the previous few days of the conference:
“‘Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman,’ says the LORD. ‘Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities. Fear not, for you will not be put to shame; and do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced; but you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth. For the LORD has called you, like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,’ says your God. ‘For a brief moment I forsook you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In an outburst of anger I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,’ says the LORD your Redeemer” (Isaiah 54:1-8, NASU).
How wonderful and comforting it is when the Creator God speaks directly to His children through His Holy Word—especially when delivered by a dedicated servant of the Lord, who was simply tuning into what the Holy Spirit wanted to communicate to those in attendance! Without lifting up the speaker—because he was simply a mouthpiece for the Lord—for me it was almost like hearing the Word from one of the ancient patriarchs of Israel, who was/is highly respected for his walk with the Holy One of Israel. Nevertheless, as I saw things, the prophetic declarations from Isaiah applied perfectly to what transpired throughout the weekend. Jew and non-Jew experienced the blessing of echad/unity through the universal love of the Messiah, without any historical barriers impeding the flow.
Providentially, the opening verse from Isaiah 54 is actually referenced in Paul’s letter to the Galatians, where he elaborates on some of the controversial issues of faith versus works, and differences between those born of the flesh versus those born of the promise. In some of the concluding points of Galatians ch. 3, where those justified by faith in Yeshua are considered Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise, there is the absolute declaration that in Him, all barriers between race, station in life, and gender are removed. In fact, according to Paul’s statements, “all are one”:
“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Messiah Yeshua might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Messiah, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Messiah Yeshua. For all of you who were baptized into Messiah have clothed yourselves with Messiah. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Messiah Yeshua. And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:22-29, NASU).
To bolster these statements and arguments, Paul goes into a rather lengthy discussion where reference to Isaiah 54 is made, noting that there was a persistent persecution of those born of the Spirit by those born according to the flesh:
“For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, ‘REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND’ [Isaiah 54:1]. And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? ‘CASE OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN’ [Genesis 21:10]. So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman” (Galatians 4:22-31, NASU).
However, returning to the Isaiah 54 passage in vs. 2-3, there is the prophecy that the great increase in the numbers of those from the “desolate” one will require the enlargement of the tents in order to accommodate an even greater number of children. This multitude of souls will possess nations and are children of the free woman, and by extension “heirs of the promise” made to Abraham to be a “father of nations” (Genesis 17:4-5):
“Enlarge the place of your tent; stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your pegs. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left. And your descendants will possess nations and will resettle the desolate cities” (Isaiah 54:2-3, NASU).
In many respects, putting all of this together, the attendees were actually able to catch a glimpse of what the Father has ultimately in store for all the encompassing “seed” of Abraham at the End of the Age. It is a mysterious promise regarding the inclusion of the redeemed from the nations into the Commonwealth of Israel (Ephesians 2:12), but best expressed in informative passages found in Romans chs. 9-11 about some of the inherent problems between the relationship challenges of Jews and those from the nations at large. In the following summary statement, the partial hardening to Israel has been lifted, when the fullness of the nations has come in, with the ultimate blessing of all Israel being saved taking shape:
“For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, ‘THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB’ [Isaiah 59:20]” (Romans 11:25-26).
I believe this gathering gave us a brief peek at what the glorious consummation of the age will look like. Eyes will be opened to what the Father has communicated through His Word. Hearts will be turned to loving one another regardless of ethnicity, race, gender, or station in life. People from all tongues, tribes, and nations, will be united in the Messiah Yeshua. Proper respect for the unique role of the Jewish people in the plan of salvation will be understood, as the mystery spoken of by Paul is better comprehended. When Jew and non-Jew can come and work together around the echad/unity and love found in Yeshua, the testimony to the watching world will be overwhelming. Thankfully, that day is on the not too distant horizon. Hallelujah!
Needless to say, we were extremely encouraged to move forward with the ministry call that is upon our family. But in closing, I was also reminded of some of the harsh realities that we are all going to have to contend with as the End of the Age approaches, and we have to once again live in a world that will become like the days were in the time of Noah (Matthew 24:27-28). Thankfully, the balance of Isaiah 54 points out those days, but comforts us with not only the continuance of the covenant of peace, but that through it all, no weapon formed against the chosen children of the Holy One will prosper:
“‘For this is like the days of Noah to Me, when I swore that the waters of Noah would not flood the earth again; so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you nor will I rebuke you. For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but My lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and My covenant of peace will not be shaken,’ says the LORD who has compassion on you. ‘O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and your foundations I will lay in sapphires. Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies, and your gates of crystal, and your entire wall of precious stones. All your sons will be taught of the LORD; and the well-being of your sons will be great. In righteousness you will be established; you will be far from oppression, for you will not fear; and from terror, for it will not come near you. If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me. Whoever assails you will fall because of you. Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and brings out a weapon for its work; and I have created the destroyer to ruin. No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,’ declares the LORD” (Isaiah 54:1-17, NASU).
The spiritual and personal blessings of echad are far too many to enumerate. But thankfully when the Father gives us an opportunity to experience it, may those times encourage us all to seek it with all our heart, soul, and strength, forevermore!
Until the “united” Messianic restoration of all things…
