From Canaan to Babylon

Canaan typifies the rest that Alahim's people enjoy in his presence with Alahim ruling over them and Alahim calls this a land flowing with milk and honey

 Ex 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Because Israel sinned & rebelled against the Yahuah they were taken into captivity away from the rest that they were to enjoy in Canaan. We know that Canaan stood as a shadow of the true rest Alahim's people would have in the Messiah.

Heb 4:8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.

 9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of Alahim.

 10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as Alahim did from his.

 11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

We will quickly look at OT Israel in captivity as they stand as an example for our admonishment and we will see their journey from Canaan to Babylon and what is expected out of us in our sojourning.

1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them (Israel) for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

When Israel was enjoying her Sabbaths in Canaan she made the gods of Babylon her strong hold which is why the Yahuah made them carry away into captivity into Babylon at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar but not without sending them prophets day and night warning them to turn away from their sins.

Jer 35:  [13] Thus saith the Yahuah of hosts, the Alahim of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Yahuah . [14] The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. [15] I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them , saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.

Israel forgot that they were sojourners and pilgrims as all their fathers were and this was the problem for they sought after a WORLDLY REST which most of Messiahians are after, seeking an earthly inheritance and rest. In the pursuit after a worldly rest they sought the rest of pomp and glamour the nations enjoyed and hence they embraced their World religion and forgot the Yahuah their inheritance. The Yahuah alone is our strong hold, a rock of refuge a place of shelter but they trusted in chariots and horses to deliver them from their enemies.

Ps 20:5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our Alahim we will set up our banners: the YAHUAH fulfil all thy petitions.

 6 ¶ Now know I that the YAHUAH saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand.

 7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the YAHUAH our Alahim.

 8 They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright.

 9 Save, YAHUAH: let the king hear us when we call. 

In the verses I quoted above from Jeremiah 35 where the Yahuah says that he sent prophets early warning them to turn from their iniquity we see a family who in the midst of apostasy were obedient to their father in living the life of a sojourner.Among apostasy all over and whoredoms the sons of Jonadab were sojourners. Please read these scriptures

Jeremiah 35:2-19
Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the Yahuah , into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. [3] Then I took Jaazaniah the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habaziniah, and his brethren, and all his sons, and the whole house of the Rechabites; [4] And I brought them into the house of the Yahuah , into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, the son of Igdaliah, a man of Alahim, which was by the chamber of the princes, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door: [5] And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. [6] But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye , nor your sons for ever: [7] Neither shall ye build house, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any : but all your days ye shall dwell in tents; that ye may live many days in the land where ye be strangers. [8] Thus have we obeyed the voice of Jonadab the son of Rechab our father in all that he hath charged us, to drink no wine all our days, we, our wives, our sons, nor our daughters; [9] Nor to build houses for us to dwell in: neither have we vineyard, nor field, nor seed: [10] But we have dwelt in tents, and have obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us. [11] But it came to pass, when Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came up into the land, that we said, Come, and let us go to Jerusalem for fear of the army of the Chaldeans, and for fear of the army of the Syrians: so we dwell at Jerusalem. [12] Then came the word of the Yahuah unto Jeremiah, saying, [13] Thus saith the Yahuah of hosts, the Alahim of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Yahuah . [14] The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father's commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. [15] I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them , saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. [16] Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: [17] Therefore thus saith the Yahuah Alahim of hosts, the Alahim of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. [18] And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Yahuah of hosts, the Alahim of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: [19] Therefore thus saith the Yahuah of hosts, the Alahim of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.

The other beautiful aspect of sojourning can be seen in the behavior of the sons of Jonadab. When they heard the army of Chaldeans is coming they sought to flee to Jerusalem (Jeremiah 35:11) because they knew that Alahim's presence was in the midst of his people.They had Alahim as their strong hold. In the midst of living with the Gentiles they obeyed their fathers instruction of not partaking of the pagans dainties and their wine.

On the other hand we see Zedekiah and those with him fleeing Jerusalem towards Jericho and the army of Chaldeans overtook them in the plains of Jericho and they were taken captive by the king of Babylon and Zedekiah's eyes put out. Jericho was a city which was once a place of stronghold and Joshua along with the people of Israel compassed it for 7 days and the walls of the city fell down flat because under the leadership of Joshua the people of Israel trusted in the Yahuah as their stronghold and the city of stronghold couldn't stand before the Yahuah who alone is the stronghold of his people. Here are the verses.

Jos 5:13 ¶ And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the YAHUAH am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?

 15 And the captain of the YAHUAH'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Jos 6:2 And the YAHUAH said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

 3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

 4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

 5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

But we see Zedekiah instead of repenting of his evil deeds fleeing Jerusalem to Jericho

Jer 52:4 And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.

 5 So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.

 6 And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.

 7 Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.

 8 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.

In the NT Yahusha tells a parable of a certain man who went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among theives

Lu 10:30 And Yahusha answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

This man was heading the wrong way. A way away from Alahim and what happens? He fell among thieves who wound him and leave him half dead. This parable is meant for all elect of Alahim because we fornicated with the whore. We trusted in chariots and horses, we were living aimlessly in this world and not as SOJOURNERS as the sons of Jonadab were. Instead of fleeing to Alahim we were fleeing to JERICHO but the Messiah came along as the GOOD SAMARITAN who washed our wounds and healed us of our sin.

All others who came by did not pity us. First the priest and then the Levite, they all passed by.

Lu 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

The priest and the Levite were themselves on their way to Jericho but they did not FALL YET but we fell so that we might be picked up by the Yahuah himself. That's the mercy of the Yahuah.

Lu 10:34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

The Yahuah is going to come back again and has committed us to the care of the love of Alahim's people where he dwells. He will repay us with everlasting kindness when he returns. We must preach the gospel of truth because out there are many fallen and wounded by the thieves and the gospel of the Messiah will bind up their wounds. 

We don't belong to this world. We are SOJOURNERS here as all our father's were.

Proverbs 23:1-3 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: [2] And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. [3] Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Satan is the ruler through the beastly kingdoms. We are called not to partake of the dainties of the world he offers.

Psalm 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. [16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of Alahim abideth for ever.

Psalm 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

1 Peter 2:11-12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; [12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify Alahim in the day of visitation.

Alahim had pronounced a curse on the one who would build Jericho again

Jos 6:26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the YAHUAH, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.

And we see Jericho was rebuilt by Heil who laid the foundation with Abiram his firstborn and set up the gates with his youngest son Segub.

1Ki 16:34 In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the YAHUAH, which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.

The YAHUAH Yahusha alone is our strong tower and the righteous run into that tower and they are safe.

 Ps 61:3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy.

Pr 18:10 ¶ The name of the YAHUAH is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe

Only the elect understand the plan of Alahim. In our captivity we have fled to the Alahim of Jacob for our refuge. He is our strong hold and a rock of refuge. All those seeking to save their lives will loose it and all those who loose their lives will save it.

Mt 10:39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

HE is our true REST.

This is the cry of all SOJOURNERS.

Psalms 137: 1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3 For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4 How shall we sing the YAHUAH'S song in a strange land?
5 If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6 If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.