Breaking the Enmity; Where Did It Start?

We are going to be starting a new blog series that will be looking to use stories from the Old Testament along with teachings from Jesus and the New Testament authors to give us greater understandings as to where Jesus came to change, replace, and/or expand the understanding of the Mosaic Covenant.  

The intent of these blogs will be to create an atmosphere where we can open up our hearts to the truth of the Mosaic Covenant in such a way to help us gain a better understanding of the New.  Far too few of us really understand the Old Covenant and instead of allowing ourselves to see it from the perspective that Jesus taught, we see it from the perspective that the Pharisees applied it.  As we read New Testament teachings we tend to believe that Jesus changed or did away with rules and regulations that God had imposed on His chosen people.  If we misunderstand this it will completely undermine the intent of the Gospel message.  Through the use of biblical stories instead of theological debate we will create an atmosphere that will help us to open up our minds to the Word of God in a new and exciting way.  I pray that this series brings deep revelation into your heart. 

by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,  and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. (Ephesians 2:15-16)

As we read Ephesians 2 it is very easy to read this scripture and assume that the “Law of commandments contained in ordinances” is specifically directed at the Mosaic Covenant.  This assumption leads us to believing that the Mosaic Covenant disallowed association, relations, or marriage outside the framework of the blood lines of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  This understanding also leads us to believe that the Mosaic Covenant disallowed anyone outside of the pure bloodline to join the covenant, become a part of the people, gain access to God, and partake in the fulfillment of the covenant promises.  With this understanding we conclude that “through the cross” a New Covenant was established that broke down the enmity that was created by the laws of the Mosaic Covenant.

In Matthew 1 we are given the blood line of Jesus.  Within this blood line we are told about five women.  They are Tamar who was Perez’s mother, Rahab who was Boaz’s mother, Ruth who was Obed’s mother, Bathsheba (noted as the wife of Uriah) who was Solomon’s mother, and of course Mary as Jesus’ mother.  Each woman’s role in the family history of Jesus is a little different.  Tamar, although an Israelite, plays the role of a prostitute to trick her father- in-law (Judah) into having sexual relations with her.  This action leads to the birth of Perez who becomes a part of the blood line to Jesus.  Rahab, on the other hand, was an Amorite and her occupation was that of a prostitute.  According to the genealogy referenced in Matthew 1, Salmon (one of the spies Rahab protected) ultimately married her.  Through this relationship she gave birth to Boaz who is also in the blood line to Jesus.  We learn more about Boaz in the book of Ruth.  In this story we discover that he becomes a kinsman redeemer for a woman named Ruth.  Ruth was connected to Boaz’s family through Elimelek who left Bethlehem because of a famine in the land.  Elimelek and his wife (Naomi) had two sons.  The two sons married Moabite women.  After a time all three of these men passed away leaving the three wives with no men to support them.  In time Naomi decided to return to her homeland.  She encouraged her daughters-in-law to return to their own father’s houses.  The one agreed and did as Naomi suggested.  The other, Ruth, refused and insisted on going with Naomi.  Boaz becomes the kinsman redeemer for this Moabite woman and through their union produce Obed who is also a blood relative of Jesus.  The next woman mentioned is Bathsheba.  Bathsheba enters into the royal blood line through the scandalous work of King David as his lust drives him into the spiral of seduction, adultery, conspiracy, murder, and self-justification.  The result of this affair is the birth of King Solomon who continues the blood line through David toward God’s promised seed.  Ultimately the last women mentioned in Jesus’ blood line is Mary who was unmarried and a virgin at the time Jesus was put into her womb.

Of all these women and the various circumstances surrounding their connection to the blood line of Jesus, I find the story of Boaz and Ruth the most applicable in this discussion.  Granted, if we wanted to discuss God’s favor and grace within the Mosaic Covenant there are better examples of God honoring His side of the covenant promises through a family tree compromised with incredible sin, deceit, and betrayal.  However, this discussion is focused on discovering the reality of the Mosaic Covenant in regard to the eluded “enmity and strife” that existed between Jews and Gentiles during the time of Christ.  The story of Boaz and Ruth provide particular insights into this discussion.

One of the most important things we learn about Boaz is his knowledge and respect for the Mosaic Covenant Laws and his obligation to work within the framework of those laws.  In Ruth 3:12-13 we find Boaz quoting the law regarding the due process for Ruth’s redemption.  Ruth 4:1-10 give us a perfect picture of how detailed Boaz was in the legal proceedings that ultimately led to the opportunity for him to redeem Ruth through acquisition and marriage.  Ruth 4:11-12 provides even greater insight into the understandings we seek.  During the legal proceedings Ruth was mentioned two times, in both cases she was referred to as “Ruth the Moabitess”.  Even considering this fact, All the people whom were in the court, and the elders, said, “We are witnesses.  May the Lord make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, both of whom built the house of Israel” (Ruth 4:11).

So how is it that the court and all the people were able to bestow such blessing upon Ruth, Boaz, and their family? For me the answer comes in Ruth 2:10-11 after Ruth asks Boaz “Why have I found favor in your sight that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”  and Boaz responds by saying “All that you have done for your mother-in-law after the death of your husband has been fully reported to me, and how you left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and came to a people that you did not previously know”.  What Boaz was getting at was this, in Ruth 1: 16 when Naomi is trying to convince the two daughters-in-law to return to the homes of their own father’s Ruth responds by saying “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodged, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.”

It warms my heart to read about times in the history of Israel and God’s people when they really understood God’s heart, understood His covenant, and understood His ways.  What Boaz and those who attend the court proceedings understood was that although Ruth was Moabite by birth, she was Israeli by choice.  In her proclamation of Ruth 1:16 she had converted.  Paul explains this in Romans 8:14 where he says “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

Unlike the time of the Pharisees, the story of Boaz and Ruth provides a glimpse of a time when there was an understanding of the Mosaic Covenant that was not legalistic, that did not approach God’s Word in such a way to strain out only the words that fit one's agenda, and through a deep understanding of the covenant relationship sought out God’s heart in all matters.  This heart toward God and His covenant is the same as referenced in 2Corinthians 3:5-6 when we read about being the servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

When we read scriptures such as this it is our natural tendency to think that the Mosaic Covenant “required” people to live to the letter and that it was the laws of the covenant that kills.  The simple truth is that what God gave Moses and the ancient Israelites was based on the same love, grace, and forgiveness of Jesus that we have in the New.

As we can see in this example, it is not the covenant, or the law itself that brings division and creates enmity between people.  It is the hearts of people who twist the letter of the law to form traditions that create social divisions that God did not intend.  This understanding is vitally important today as we come into times of great division within the church and from the church toward the outside world.  We are reminded of the past to protect us from repeating the same mistakes in the future.  We are every bit as prone to creating enmity and strife based on our “New Testament” understandings as the ancient Israelites were when their relationship with God was established on the Mosaic Covenant.

There are many scriptures throughout Numbers and Leviticus that further outline how foreigners living amongst the people of Israel were to be included in the feasts, holidays, and given the opportunity to honor the Sabbath rest.  There are scriptures that address how these people are to be dedicated to God, and be brought into the fold of God’s people.  The truth is that Jesus did not come to break an enmity that was created by the law, but to re-establish God’s desire to lead the gentile world away from sin, into holiness, into righteousness, and into the fold of His people where they would enjoy all the benefits of the covenant relationship.  In this case the law was not pointing toward Jesus as a foreshadowing, but Jesus was pointing backwards toward the law, going on record, and attempting to tell us what God’s heart was toward these things from the beginning.

I pray that this blog has led you to go back into the Old Testament, to spend some time in God’s laws, and let Him reveal His heart to you in a new and powerful way.  I pray that your relationship with Him will be blessed and that through this blessing all of your life will be impacted in a mighty and powerful way.  Amen.