Jews - Not to be reckoned among the nations

The legacy of Jews was a to be a uniquely spiritual one.

In a world of idolatry including human sacrifices, Jews believed in and worshipped one God, and this God was invisible. They subscribed to the idea of circumcision, yet refused to offer human sacrifice.

God said of the Jews, “The people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.” Num. 23:9.

The Jew himself has sought to make void this prophecy.

By nature the Jew, was no different than the Gentiles that surrounded him. And, he instinctively wanted to be like them. He did not want to dwell alone, to be a people apart, to not be numbered among the people. So he has rebelled time and time again.

In the days of Samuel, they asked for a king to be over them. This, was not bad in itself, but they showed what was in their heart when they said, “That we also may be like all the nations.” - I Sam. 8:19-20.

In the days of Ezekiel also, they said, “We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries.” - Ezek. 20:32

So, to cure them of this trait and tendency God sent them repeatedly into captivity.

Remember I said earlier on that the Jews have a uniquely spiritual legacy? It was their God-ordained mission to bring the Messiah to the world, and give Him to humanity! In order to accomplish this, centuries before His coming, strict laws of segregation were imposed upon Israel that separated him from his neighbors, and caused him to dwell in isolation. Many times these laws, and the reason for them, were not understood even by the Jews themselves, and this continued to cause friction.

Their laws of marriage were strict. Marriage was permitted only among their closed community. This was necessary to preserve the blood lines of the coming Messiah. The Messiah's earthly parents - Joseph and Mary - were two direct descendants of the house of David. Thus the Messiah wsa born of the tribe of Judah, of the seed of Abraham. The lineage could be traced in an unbroken line all the way back to Abraham – Matthew, chapter one and all the way to Seth Son of Adam, Son of Godm - Luke, chapter 3