Other Sheep and A Forgotten Prophecy

 

Many churches are dealing with the challenges of bringing new sheep into the spiritual sheepfold of Christ. As we consider these sheep, we may find that there are many whom we have overlooked, or neglected. Jesus spoke about some of them as He taught of Himself as the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep:

"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd."   Jn. 10:14-16 (excerpt)
The "other sheep" about whom Jesus is speaking may include those whom we seldom consider.

When God made a covenant with Abram (The Exalted One is My Father), He described the great multitude that would be Abram's seed (Gen. 15:5). He also described the land that would be given to Abram's seed:

"In the same day, the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "Unto they seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates."  Gen 15:18

This great territory extended from Egypt eastward and northward over the Arabian peninsula, to the easterly point of the Babylonian/Assyrian lands, which were bordered by the Euphrates River.



The first of Abram's seed would come from his wife's Egyptian maid, Hagar (Flight).

 

 

As Hagar was with child, she fled from Sarah's anger. She came to a place of a fountain ("ayin", eye). Here, an angel prophesied that she would have a son, Ishmael (God Will Hear), "because the LORD has heard thy affliction". The angel said Hagar's seed would be multiplied exceedingly, unable even to be numbered. He described Ishmael as being wild, and aggressive, with other men aggressive towards him also. The angel also said, "...and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."   Gen 16:10-12

At this fountain (eye) Hagar exclaims that the LORD has seen her: "Thou God seest me", and names the place of this water, Beer lehai roi, "Well of Life, the Living One".

Some years after Ishmael is born, God renames Abram, Abraham, meaning "Father of many nations, or a multitude". Ishmael is circumcised with the rest of Abraham's household.
Later, when Hagar and Ishmael were again cast out, and dying in the wilderness, Hagar placed her son under bushes (commune, speak, pray aloud, sing, meditate). The LORD told Hagar, "...fear not, for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is".   Gen 21:17

Even as God made the precious promise of Isaac to Abraham, He blessed Ishmael, saying twelve princes and a great nation, multitudes, would come from him (Gen 17:20). While Abraham left all he had to Isaac, he made gifts to his other descendants (Gen. 25:5-6).

After Sarah died, Abraham married Keturah (incense, smoke from sacrifice), and produced more seed (Gen. 25:1-4).

 



 

Generations later, Moses was shown all of the land that the LORD ordained for Isaac's descendants (Deut. 34:1-4), which is also a description of the approximate territory of present day Israel. This land is just a portion of the land that was promised to all of Abram's seed in Gen. 15:18. 

Even more important than the covenant of land promised to all of Abraham's seed, is the spiritual covenant that God made concerning not just Isaac, but the others as well:

"The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah (children of Keturah); all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD. All the flocks of Kedar (son of Ishmael) shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebajoth (son of Ishmael) shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory."  

and

"In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt (Hagar's nation), and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD...And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it....He shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and He shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless saying, "Blessed be Egypt, My people, and Assyria, the work of My hands, and Israel Mine inheritance."     Isa. 60:6-7, 19:19, 21-25

Surely the preaching of the Gospel is to all men, but especially to all of Abraham's seed. Particularly, it must be to all those to whom He has revealed Himself as "God sees me, God will hear me". Ishmael's place is to be "dwelling in the presence of all his brethren".

Israel has an everlasting covenant with God regarding land. So do all of Abraham's seed. Israel has a spiritual covenant with God that Messiah would come from the line of Isaac and Jacob. Salvation is of the Jews, and is to be to the Jew first (Jn. 4:22, Rom. 1:16). However, the rest of Abraham's seed also has a spiritual covenant with God according to the Word. It is a covenant of reconciliation with God, and with their brethren, Israel. Now is the time to consider the promises of God, particularly His promises to this         unreached multitude of Abraham's seed.

This month before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is called Elul. It is a time of reflection, and turning back to God. By tradition, it is considered a time of God's "chased" mercy and favor. The Hebrew letters that make up the word "Elul", aleph, lamed, vaw, lamed, have the meanings of The Head (Chief), The Shepherd's hook, The Nail or Tent Peg (a joining), and The Shepherd's Hook again. The Shepherd's hook is emphasized.

It is a special time to remember those words of our Good Shepherd concerning His other sheep, and to discern the Lord's body:

"...they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd."