HHMI Newsgroup Archives
From: Ephraim Frank
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: An Analysis of Jacob's Trouble
NOTE: Ephraim Frank lives in one of the settlements upon the
mountains of Israel, Judea / Samaria or as the Western worlds calls
it --- The West Bank
AN ANALYSIS OF JACOB'S TROUBLE
Shalom Fellow Israelite,
If there is one word that aptly describes our present situation here in
Israel, it is "trouble". The word often used is tzarah; that is,
adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation or trouble. The
consonant combination TZ and R is found in several other words such as,
tza'ar: sorrow; tzar: enemy, adversary; tzarar: bind, tie up, restrict,
narrow, scant, cramped, a show of hostility, vexing; tzaraf: smelt,
refine, test; matzref: a crucible or instrument of refining; tzir'ah:
hornet; tzorev: burn, scorch; tzara'at: leprosy.
Armed with this background into the tzadi (tz) and resh (r) combination,
let us examine two scriptures that have been coming to mind these days.
"Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the
time of Ya'acov's trouble (tzarah.), but he shall be saved out of it"
(Jer.30:7)."At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who
stands over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of
trouble (tzarah) such as never was since there was a nation, even to
that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one
who is found written in the book" (Dan. 12:1). These two passages point
out, that the time of tribulation-trouble for God's chosen nation
(Ya'acov-Israel) is also a time of witnessing YHVH's arm of salvation
and deliverance in and through the tribulation (tzarah).
The context of Jeremiah 30 is very revealing. Jeremiah sums
up his
chapter by saying: "The fierce anger of YHVH will not return until He
has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the
latter days you will understand these things. For 'at that same time,'
says YHVH, 'I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they
shall be My people'" (Jer. 30:24-25 or 31:1). (Originally there were no
chapter divisions.)
What things are we to understand during the days of YHVH's
wrath
and Ya'acov's trouble? The prophet opens up by declaring YHVH's word:
"For behold, the days are coming, says YHVH `that I will bring back from
captivity My people Israel and Yehuda... And I will cause them to return
to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'
Now these are the words that YHVH spoke concerning Israel and Yehuda"
(Jer 30:1-4). Then again in v.18, "Behold, I will bring back the
captivity of Ya'acov's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places." If
what we are experiencing today is the beginning of the restoration of
the Two Houses of Israel (the corporate house of Ya'acov), the rest of
the scenario in which it is set, although none too pleasant, cannot be
circumvented.
During these days of Ya'acov's restoration, YHVH will pour
out His
wrath. Why? Again the prophet answers: "Because of the multitude of your
iniquities, because your sins have increased I have done these things to
you" (Jer. 30:15). What things is he referring to? "I have wounded you
with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one" (Jer.
30:14). This chastisement is so severe that YHVH himself comments: "We
have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now and
see, whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every
man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces
turned pale? Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; it is
the time of Ya'acov's trouble" (Jer. 30:5-7). However, in God's economy
of justice there is hope.
"Therefore do not fear, O My servant Ya'acov,' says YHVH,
`Nor be
dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed
from the land of their captivity. Ya'acov shall return, have rest and be
quiet, and no one shall make them afraid... But they shall serve YHVH
their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them... For I am
with you,' says YHVH, `to save you... for I will restore health to you and
heal you of your wounds,' says YHVH, `Because they called you an outcast
saying: 'This is Zion; no one seeks her'"(Jer. 30:10, 9, 11,17).
These scriptures bear out the fact that the Two Houses are
still
mainly scattered in the nations during these tribulation judgments.
Even though a remnant of Yehuda has returned to the land, they too will
come under the rod. "For I am with you,' says YHVH, `to save you; though
I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet I will
not make a complete end of you. But I will correct you in justice, and
will not let you go altogether unpunished'" (Jer. 30:11).
The United Nations has condemned Zionism as being
equivalent to
racism. There are even some versions of the Bible that have removed
that word altogether. Today, in Israel itself, Zionism has become a
lost ideology (ours has been named the 'post Zionist' era). Many of us
who were living in the land when the Camp David accords were signed,
felt the sword of the 'peace process' pierce the heart of Zionism. It
literally died when we gave to the Palestinians the 'go head' to possess
the heartland of our inheritance. However, there are still a few
"diehards" in the so-called territories. There is also a growing number
of Christian Zionists, out in the nations, who are slowly discovering
their Israelite roots and the reason for their heart's response to the
call, "let us go up to Zion to YHVH our God".
Will it take "Ya'acov's troubles" for the House
of Yehuda to
accept their Messiah and their brothers from the House of Israel
(Ephraim)? Likewise, will it take "tzarah" for the House of Ephraim to
leave his idols and Babylonian garments and return to the covenant, the
Shabbat and the Torah?
"At that same time [of Ya'acov's trouble], says YHVH,
'I will be
the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people'"
(Jer 31:1)." I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains
of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no
longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms
again. They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor
with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but
I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have
sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will
be their God" (Eze. 37:22-23). "For this is the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel after those days", says YHVH: 'I will put
My Torah in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be
their God, and they shall be My people'"(Jer. 31:33). "Then I will give
them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good
of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting
covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but
I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.
Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly
plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul. For
thus says YHVH: `Just as I have brought all this great calamity on this
people, so I will bring on them all the good that I have promised them'"
(Jer. 32:39-42). "Therefore say to the house of Israel, `Thus says YHVH
your God: "I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My
holy name's sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you
went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among
the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations
shall know that I am YHVH,' says YHVH, 'when I am hallowed in you before
their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out
of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle
clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all
your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and
put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your
flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and
cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do
them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you
shall be My people, and I will be your God'" (Ez. 36:22-28). "Therefore
thus says YHVH who redeemed Avraham, concerning the house of Ya'acov:
'Ya'acov shall not now be ashamed, nor shall his face now grow pale; but
when he sees his children, the work of My hands in his midst, they will
hallow My name and hallow the Holy One of Ya'acov, and fear the God of
Israel. These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, and
those who complained will learn doctrine'" (Isa. 29:22:24).
"Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your
word... It
is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your
statutes...The Torah of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold
and silver nuggets... I know, O YHVH that Your judgments are right, and
that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. Let, I pray, Your merciful
kindness be for my comfort, according to Your word to Your servant. Let
Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; for Your Torah is my
delight...You have dealt well with Your servant, O YHVH, according to Your
word" (Ps.119: 67,71-72,75-77,65).
Shabbat Shalom,
Shevet Achim
Ephraim Frank
"May YHVH answer you in the day of trouble; may the
name of the
God of Ya'acov defend you; may He send you help from the sanctuary, and
strengthen you out of Zion" (Ps.20:1-2).
*********************************************************************
Return to
Newsgroup Archives Main Page
Return to our Main Webpage
©2011
Hebraic Heritage Ministries International. Designed by
Web Design by JB.