This is a continuation from the Born Again Process (Part 1), (Part 2) & (Part 3)

The four individuals, with respect to YHVH’s “Born in the Land” people who I have described at length in my last two blogs; also describes the 4 stages that every man must go through in becoming a “born in the land” son and heir of YHVH’s kingdom. Here again are the four types of men which I have described.

• Foreigner (alien to true Israel, “ben nekar”)
• Sojourner (involved alien with true Israel, “toshab”)
• Stranger (citizen of true Israel, “ger”)
• Native Born Citizen (Born in the land Israel, “Ezrach”)

The Ben Nekar
We all start by being born into some kingdom of the world and a citizen of another land, a ben nekar. As a ben Nekar we do not know anyone from true Israel or any of their ways. That is where I was for the majority of my life.

The Toshab
At some point along our life journey YHVH’s see to it that we find some truth, or more frequently meet someone who is true Israel (a ger or an ezrach) and begin to see the light of the creator through their righteous deeds. For me this happened in 1996; I had a customer that always wore tzitzit and at one point in my many visits with him at his place of business he said to me “Michael, you need to find out about the feasts of YHVH!” Eleven words that stuck with me for the net 4 – 5 years of my life.

During that time I searched through my Father’s word (Moses and the Prophets) and began to see that many of the things that I thought I knew, did not line up with the scriptures that Yeshua, Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude all taught from. I began to question my pastor after each service, both to his dismay and my wife’s, but as answers I only received more doctrines and traditions of men. Ha – when YHVH’s light begins to shine through His people on a dark world it forces decisions. We must either embrace the light and move forward in it or we will flat-out reject it.

The Ger
If we choose to embrace the light through repentance and turn to all the Creator’s ways (this is the circumcision of the heart), by beginning to learn and do them, we become a ger.  We join ourselves to YHVH’s holy people;  those who also have separated themselves from the kingdoms and kings of their first birth and now serve only one lawmaker and judge (YHVH) and follow His king (Yeshua).

The Ezrach
Once each year the ger has the opportunity to become as “one born in the land”, an ezrach, by being circumcised (this time in the flesh along with all the males of his household) and then eating of the Passover. If the ger or ezrach does not eat of the Passover at the moed he kicked out of Israel along with his whole family.

And when a stranger [ger] dwells with you [the ezrach] and wants to keep the Passover to YHVH, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; AND HE SHALL BE [come] AS A NATIVE OF THE LAND [an ezrach]. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.” (Exo 12:48)

Some examples
That said, here are some examples of people moving forward in this process of becoming as one born in the land.

Ittai the Gittite
Then the king (David) said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why are you also going with us? Return and remain with the king. For you are a foreigner (ben nekar) and also an exile from your own place. In fact, you came only yesterday. … Return, and take your brethren back. Mercy and truth be with you.” But Ittai answered the king and said, “As YHVH lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.” So David said to Ittai, “Go, and cross over.” Then Ittai the Gittite and all his men and all the little ones who were with him crossed over. 2Sa_15:19-22

Ittai (and those men, women and children) moved from a foreigner (ben nekar) status to a sojourner (toshab) status by virtue of his confession and maybe even to that of a stranger (ger) by virtue of their “crossing over.” I think the latter is a more assessment.

Ruth
But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. (Ruth 1:16)

So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him [Boaz], “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner (a nokree, a foreign woman)?” And Boaz answered and said to her, “It has been fully reported to me, all that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you have left your father and your mother and the land of your birth, and have come to a people whom you did not know before. YHVH repay your work, and a full reward be given you by YHVH God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.” (Ruth 2:10-12)

Ruth moved from a foreign or nokree woman status to that of a sojourner (toshab) by virtue of her relationship to Naomi; and then became a stranger (ger) and citizen of Israel, at least in character, by the circumcision of her heart which was demonstrated  through her confession and subsequent actions.

Incidentally, Ruth later became a daughter of YHVH through her marriage to the ezrach and son of Israel, Boaz. A man of Israel is only allowed to marry a woman of Israel so the fact that it had been “fully reported” to him how Ruth had left her father and her mother and the land of her birth, and had come to a people whom she did not know before was very important.

The eunuch and the ben nekar
Thus says YHVH: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold on it; who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” Do not let the son of the foreigner (ben nekar) who has joined himself to YHVH speak, saying, “YHVH has utterly separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” For thus says YHVH “to the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, and choose what pleases Me, and hold fast My covenant, even to them I will give in My house and within My walls a place and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off. “Also the sons of the foreigner (ben nekar) who join themselves to YHVH, to serve Him, and to love the name of YHVH, to be His servants — everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.“  Isa 56:1-8

The “son of the foreigner” (ben nekar) and the eunuchs who joined themselves to YHVH, they were baptized or immersed into True Israel, and both moved from a status of a foreigner to that of a stranger (ger).

Moses
And she bore him a son. He called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a stranger (ger) in a foreign (nokree) land.” Exo 2:22

Moses was a stranger (ger) when he came back to Egypt by virtue of his own confession. And as one born in the land (ezrach) when he left Egypt by virtue of his partaking in the Passover lamb. He, and many others, became “born in the land” just before they left Egypt; and hardly any of them had ever even seen the land and never would.

We, True born in the land (ezrach) Israel, were all strangers (gerim) at one time. YHVH, speaking with Israel, says:

“You [born in the land, Israel] shall neither mistreat a strangers (gerim) nor oppress him, for you were strangers (gerim) in the land of Egypt. Exo 22:21

Everyone who has been born into True Israel was once stranger (ger) in their Egypt at one time, since we can not become native-born Israel without being a ger first!

Let us now consider our own lives in relation to this Born Again Process. Where are we in this journey? We all start out being citizens of a foreign land, a ben nekar. Have we begun our move towards becoming born in the land?

So, where does the man who simply confesses Yeshua as lord stand?

• Has he repented and committed himself to keeping all of YHWH’ s commandments, no matter where he is at?
• Does he still maintain his citizenship in another kingdom?
• Does he have anything more than a superficial relationship with True Israel?
• Does he even know anyone who is True Israel, a ger or Ezrach?

Since we can not become True Israel without becoming a ger first; let us repent today and commit to becoming a stranger (a ger) in a foreign (nokree) land. Yeshua said, “The kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Now after John was put in prison, Yeshua came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mar 1:14-15)

The Born Again Process

• We all begin in Egypt as a foreigner (ben nekar)! A citizen of another kingdom.
• YHVH will see to it that everyone becomes a sojourner (toshab) by seeing YHVH’s light or truth in the world; usually by meeting someone from true Israel.
• The sojourner (toshab) who repents will become a stranger (ger) and be baptized or immersed into all of True Israel’s laws. He will become a subject citizen of the kingdom of True Israel, no matter what kingdom he was previously a citizen of.

Human aspiration must rise higher than the elimination of the negative; it must strive for positive achievement.  One is not complete until one has come to the resting place of YHVH’s presence with the offering that represents an atonement for the past and a dedication for the future.

Yeshua said, “You must be born again!”

• One time every year a stranger has the opportunity to become as one born in the land (ezrach) or “Born Again.” He can become a son and heir of True Israel by getting circumcised and keeping the Passover as codified in Exodus 12.

We must all ask ourselves “Where am I in this process of becoming as one born in the land?” Remember, Yeshua said,

“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Is it possible that the Way of Life is far more narrow than most have ever imagined? Yeshua was not talking to the Gentiles when he said “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be who find it;” he was talking to the people who thought they were YHVH’s people already.

Let’s renew our commitment today to learn, do and teach only YHVH’s ways; for if we will, we can be great in YHVH’s kingdom. I, want to be great in YHVH’s kingdom and I want that for you also!

For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Torah until all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 5:18-19)

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