The Identity of Israel and Jesus

Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22)

The identity of Jesus and Israel as first-fruits could be understood from the perspective of election and sacrifice. (Genesis 4:4; Leviticus 23:9-14; 1 Corinthians 15:20) Christ as Passover and his subsequent resurrection on the feast of first-fruits is especially meaningful in this context. Israel is likewise called first-fruits of his harvest. (Jeremiah 2:3)

First-fruits lead to blessings for others. (Proverbs 3:3-10; Ezekiel 44:30) This is evident in Christ the first-fruit, the atoning sacrifice for our sins and that of the whole world. (1 John 2:2; Isaiah 61:1) It is evident in the story of Joseph and how a world was saved from starvation. And it is evident in Israel, as God promised to Abraham: “In you shall all the nations be blessed”. (Galatians 3:8 ESV)

The identity of Jesus and Israel in the role of beloved son teach us about the Father. In the Parable of the Prodigal Son Christ teaches Israel that a Father’s love for his children is enduring. Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to remind them that they were still God’s children. (Matthew 15:24; Matthew 6:9)

Israel as son of God also has prophetic significance. Jesus Christ is both a son of Israel and the true vine in whom Israel had to remain. (John 15:1-8) He is the branch of Israel who bears exemplary fruit and at the same time a root. (Isaiah 11-12; Romans 11:17) Consequently we may understand Christ the son of God to be the antitypical Israel. One excellent example is found in how the Exodus of Israel foreshadowed Christ : “When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt”. (Hosea 11:1; Compare Matthew 2:15)

The Lord’s Evening Meal and Our Doorpost

While in Egypt, Israelites were to slaughter a lamb and mark their doorpost with its blood.

But why the doorpost? In Deu 6:9 Israel is commanded to write God’s commandments on their doorposts. (Also Deu 11:20)

Christ is our Pesach lamb. Also, Jesus said:

Verily, verily, I say into you, he that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. I am the door; by Me if anyone shall enter in, he shall be saved (John 10:1, 2, 9 KJV)

Jesus Christ is thus also the door. Through a door we enter our home, and once inside we are protected. Through Christ we enter the sheepfold, and we shall be saved. The Israelites who marked their door with the blood gained protection while inside their homes.

Rahab’s home became a sanctuary during the fall of Jericho.

Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee. (Josh 2:18)

The window was the entrance or exit to the home for the scouts of Israel so it functioned as a doorpost, and we can imagine the thread had to be red because it represents Christ’s blood. All who were in that home were protected on the day of Jericho’s fall, just like that time in Egypt.

What is the modern day application of this? All who enter by the door that is Christ will be saved.

Music and Time Travel

I feel like you can play a certain song over and over during a period of your life, and that song becomes associated with all emotions and experiences of that period.

Listening to that song again later in life, is like traveling back in time. Everything comes back and you can actually feel as if you are once more in that moment.