If Christians are Israel wouldn't Jesus Be incestuous with his Fathers wife??? The Nation Israel is portrayed as the WIFE of God the Father. God repeatedly states the Marriage is an EVERLASTING covenant. Christ Is the SON born of this MARRIAGE... be is betrothed to his BRIDE... which is the CHURCH. THIS is the NEW COVENENT. God is not a man that he should Lie... there are two covenants... Two Marriages... two distinct subjects... Christians and Israel???
Well, here's the best way I can look at it personally...
Christians aren't "Israel", so much as "sons of Israel", along with many unknowing people and non-christians.
Take with a grain of salt, I am still working through these daily...
Maybe someone else sees or knows similar details about the
prophecy contained in the Joseph story or individual sons that I don't.
Jacob: Anyone who is struggling primarily materially, against others or for self during their seeking of God. "One uppers", supplanters, people conquerors, Nicolaitines.
becomes
Israel: Anyone who is earnestly seeking God, therefore, chosen by Him. (This does not exclude people of any religion or race, granted, they may not be seeking Him properly. Still, they seek Him and this search is the struggle. Israel = Struggles with El.
Note that after Jacob is renamed Israel, he is alternately later referred to by each name, depending on his current motives or the motive of the "son of ..." in context. There are actually two occasions where his renaming is declared, as if to insinuate either a backsliding, or maybe a reiteration of the process of change.
Gentile: People who are not earnestly seeking God. They may believe in Him, go to church, be a good person, etc., but don't really give God or even the concept very much thought except when reminded by external means. Many christians fall into this description, and is why I say I "follow Jesus" rather than "am a christian." It is a more powerful statement, and it does not immediately taint me with the media's "God hates fags" mentality when I speak to someone in a bar or guitar shop. I feel like it relieves them of the fear that I judge them simply by my introduction. And while I visit various local churches, I refrain from becoming a "member" of a brick building or a "pastorship."
To these old hebrews, a son is a result that is kept near. What something "becomes." Twins represent multiple sides of the one result. The reasons the "boring" lineages are preserved is so we can learn what the names mean and see that certain states begat certain states. The lineages usually start with something "red", wild and fleshly and in distress, and end with some kind of a victory.
They teach a process of personal growth or demise.
A daughter is a result that is given to or taken by another.
My best effort at identifying "sons of Israel"...
Reuben: People who entertain Jesus (as Joseph), but do not think He came out of the pit. Slept with Father's wife, i.e. still adhere to Torah. An example would be some of modern Islam or modern Judaism.
Simeon: People who exact judgment in the name of God. (Killing in the Dinah story. They were mutually in love, proper wording is that he "spoke to the heart" of her, rather than just "kindly")
Levi: People who exact
and propagate judgment in the name of God. (Dinah...)
Judah: People who cast the stumbling block of "justification of sin" or "denial of guilt"
Dan: People who sought properly once, but have changed and are now stuck in idols etc.
Naphtali: People who seek but have no shepherd. A wild and free version of a sheep, a "deer on the loose."
Gad: People who focus on warfare in the name of God, or hyper-evangelism. An example might be some of another type of christians, muslims, "jews".
Asher: "Daughters" who bless and embrace joy. An example might be peaceful seculars who yet seek God. Maybe a hippie type or new ager. Some universalists and wise men, his
bread shall be fat, and he shall
yield royal dainties.
Issachar: Works based seekers. "Earners" of heaven. Donkeys and hirelings.
Zebulon: People who seek material evidence of their salvation. Prosperity gospel-ites.
Joseph: ( Jesus ) aka Ephraim via birth right. People who know the way.
Benjamin: Preservers of the message. Appointed to keep the house in order until His return. Backwards wolves.
Manasseh: Unknowing victors in Christ. Didn't need his own birthright because he was good to go. People like my aunt who struggles with church and scripture, but has given her life and all of her possessions and cares without thought in service to everyone she meets, in the name of Christ.
Therefore most Christians are Israel, because in one or more of those ways, they at least do earnestly seek and to some degree have a relationship with God. From a sprinkling with the blood, to being slathered in oil.
I believe a person spiritually can belong to and dwell among multiple "tribes"
And as prophesied, Gentiles, who don't really have a relationship, are the ones running the religious shows right now. Treading the sacrifice and the washing, the courtyard, under foot, ruining the concepts, yet ironically being more productive in their endeavors than Israel has been.
For further contemplation, the aforementioned attributes fit the camping order of the tribes.
Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Levi - all spend time focused on "revelation" and praise, rising of the sun.
Reuben, Simeon, Gad, all spend time focused on "service", facing the throne.
Benjamin, Ephraim, Mannesah (Joseph/Jesus), all spend time focused on "the right hand", end of the day.
Asher, Dan, Naphtali - all spend time focused on "being heavenly", behind the throne.
Process is east, south, west, and when applicable, north in the Most Holy Place.
Whether the focus is in error or in accuracy.
Note that though I refer to islam, new age, etc., just because they don't yet understand that they are "sons of Israel", nor have any good direction, doesn't mean they aren't
trying to find "the one and only true creator of the universe", therefore qualifying spiritually as Israel, chosen people. They will receive evidence and a chance for proper direction before He returns I believe. "Come out of Babylon My people."
And since discussion of the tribes usually brings to mind Revelation, I will say for reasons that are too lengthy to get into, that I believe the "144,000" are probably physically descended via DNA no matter what nationality they are. (Humanity was extremely mixed before we found America.) And that they are also spiritually descended, in that they have struggled with stages in life that have placed them in the roles of the sons, or at least to have been tempted extensively by those ways.
Now as to the question at hand, "marriages", the best I can do is say there's no "sleeping with the father's wife" involved as I see it, based on the divinity of Jesus, His manifestation of God's male role.
Or possibly, God "marries" all of mankind, with the "virgin bride" part of it being said to be married differently, via victory in Jesus.
"YHWH of
hosts" and "dwell
among them" i.e. God living inside each and every man, "becoming one flesh"
almost to the same degree as "Father, Son, Holy Spirit" in Jesus.
Ancient Hebrew family structure accounting for the concept of "polygyny"
God/Jesus (polygynist, desires and receives multiple humans)
Man (polygynist, desires and receives multiple wives)
Woman (desires and receives multiple children) [woman saved by child bearing=ladies, here is your strongest conduit for understanding
how God loves
you, the way you love your children! A peaceful respite from the "husband is your head" concept. You are their "head" and their moon, tugging on the seas of their heart.]
And the loop begins again with children who are their own man or woman.
The final "man/wife" union is a tough one for me, because as everyone knows, I vehemently adhere to the reconciliation of all mankind, though salvation from the punishment is only for followers of Yeshua. And I believe the most significant point of the punishment is centered around that very belief, His name's (Salvation's) sake.
Peace.