Zion's Voice

Haftarah Reflections   11

Torah portion           Genesis 44 : 18  – 47 : 27 

Haftarah portion     Ezekiel  37 : 15  - 28

Listen to the Prophets

Ezekiel was a member of a priestly family, and as such he was quite familiar with Levitical customs and laws, as well as having an intimate knowledge of Mosaic Law. He was exiled to Babylon in 597 B.C.E., about 11 years prior to Jerusalem falling into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. Of all the writing prophets, Ezekiel is the most precise regarding the timing of his writings. Thirteen times, he gives us date references. His writings cover a period of about 22 years, indicating a very close walk with God.

In our parashah today, we come to a message of encouragement to the exiles, prophesying that the Lord would take them back to the Land of Promise, and moreover, re-unite the Nation again under one king.

Ezekiel 37 is most known for its “valley of dry bones” pronouncement. What we have before us today follows that, and is most exciting because it also relates to events we see happening in our day, as well as events still in the future.

The prophet is instructed to take two sticks, write inscriptions on each, one for Judah (the people in exile in Babylon at that time) and one for Israel (the people of the Northern Kingdom who were taken captive 136 years earlier).  Then he was told to join those sticks and hold them in his hand so that people could see only one stick. The explanation of this is contained in verses 21 and 22. It is a promise of God to these people, that they would return to their own land, be re-united with their ‘cousins’ from the Northern Kingdom, would settle in that land under one king, and never be divided into two kingdoms ever again.

It was 40 years before these people saw the first evidence of fulfilment of this prophecy. And now, about 2,500 years on, we are yet to see its complete fulfilment, but we clearly see it coming as more and more Jewish people are making Aliyah to Israel from every corner of the globe. This is consistent with other prophetic pronouncements made by Ezekiel in chapters 34 and 36.

It is often the case in Biblical prophecy, that there are multiple layers of fulfilment. The first layer was the initial return under the leadership of Zerubbabel, when restoration building work commenced, and the main cause of their exile, the neglect of Torah, was rectified and the people again began to learn and to observe the principles of righteous living together.

But there is much more for us to learn and be excited about in this parashah. It is quite obvious that we are now entering another layer of fulfilment of this prophecy. The people are returning to the land in unprecedented numbers. Over 7 million Jews now live in the territories previously divided as Israel and Judea. Since 1948 there has been only Israel, BUT there is not yet ONE KING over them. Our parashah says that king will be David. However, from other prophetic promises we know that the everlasting kingdom (2 Samuel 7: 8-16) will be ruled by a successor of the House of David. That will be King Yeshua.

Please read carefully the words in verses 24 to 28. The promises contained here are as yet unfulfilled. There is a strong reference here to the New Covenant which God promised through the prophet Jeremiah. Let’s look closely at the text. (Remember the two sticks made one?)

“They shall walk in My judgements and observe My statutes, and do them. A covenant of peace. An everlasting covenant. My sanctuary set in their midst forevermore. I will be their God. They shall be My people. The nations will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”   We see this today only in part, and a small part at that.

Let’s now look at the terms of the New Covenant in Jeremiah 31: 31 – 34 “Made with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. (two sticks made into one) I will put My Torah in their minds. I will write My Torah on their hearts. I will be their God. They shall be My people. They shall ALL know Me. I will forgive their iniquity. Their sin I will remember no more”.  This is a covenant that is people proof!! It cannot be broken.

Such is the foresight that God gave to Ezekiel. Not only the events which took place in the first return to the land, but those taking place today, and those still to come. What a mighty prophet of God Ezekiel is shown to be. On a very personal note, I have firsthand experience of hearing the direct word of God to me in the reading of Ezekiel. It changed my life. The reading of this prophetic book may be a blessing in your life too.

Shabbat Shalom

RS