Two blogs I have recently sent out seem to have merged together in thrilling new revelation! Not long ago I wrote about Rachel's Flocks - three flocks mentioned in Genesis 29:2. I compared these flocks to those whom Yeshua mentions in John 10:16: "I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice and there shall be one flock and one shepherd." If Yeshua is speaking of His "sheep pen" as those who believe in Him as their Lord and Messiah, then there are others whom He also intends to bring in. And last week I wrote to you about Isaiah 19, specifically the verses that speak of Egypt, Assyria and Israel, and a highway that passes between them so that they can all worship the LORD. Three flocks - three areas/nations - three parts of God's family who do not yet know Him? Are we getting some vital clues to the Restoration that is coming?
Because of a marvelously insightful article by James Goll, I certainly did see these clues, and I want to pass this revelation on to you. It is too good to miss! Mr. Goll points out that Abraham had children by three different women: Hagar, Sarah, and Keturah. Hagar was an Egyptian, Sarah an Israelite, and Keturah the mother of many sons whose descendents were scattered into Persia and Assyria (modern-day Iran, Iraq, Syria and possibly Turkey). Most of modern-day Assyria lies across the land of Iraq. You may recall from Isaiah 19 that it is written: "In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians to Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be a third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth."
When this prophecy is fulfilled, God is going to humble Egypt, and her people will cry out to Him for help because of the cruel oppression of their future rulers (Isa. 19:4). Isaiah 19:20-21 tells us, "When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, He will send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will rescue them. So the LORD will make Himself known to the Egyptians, and in that day they will acknowledge the LORD." Hallelujah! This is Hagar's family, one of the flocks at the well, coming to salvation through Messiah Yeshua! And we know God is going to accomplish this also with Sarah's children (the Jewish people), who are already coming to know their Messiah by the thousands in Israel. As Goll writes, "God is the supreme multi-tasker. He can accomplish more than one thing at a time! Biblical prophecy indicates that alongside God's gathering of the outcasts of Israel to their homeland, He is setting the stage to do a great work among all the descendants of Abraham."
It will be true also for Keturah's children. Abraham's last wife (whom he married after Sarah's death) was the mother of Midian and grandmother of Ephah and Sheba. These descendants of Abraham were scattered "to the land of the east" (see Gen. 25:6). Again, these lands to the east represent Assyria. And Keturah's children have a prophetic destiny with the Messiah as seen in Isaiah 60:6: "A multitude of camels will cover you [Israel], the young camels of Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba will come; they will bring gold and frankincense and will bear good news of the praises of the LORD." This prophecy could refer to the gifts brought to the Messiah as a young child - or could refer to the future rising up of the Assyrians to worship the One True God and bring forth His praise in the earth! Or it could be dual prophecy that means both!
And so, my friends, here we see them - the three flocks of Rachel - coming together across a highway from Egypt to Assyria, through Israel, in an end-time revival that at last makes us ONE FLOCK WITH ONE SHEPHERD." Lord God, let it be in our time! Let us navigate through the fierce darkness of wars, violence, and upheaval to come with this proclamation of salvation on our lips:
"See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the LORD rises upon you and His glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: all assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar and your daughters are carried on your arm. Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will throb and swell with joy!" (Isa. 60:2-5)
