But is there something more ? Is this a cliché Christian story or is it really a Jewish story from a Jewish Rabbi and the promised Messiah ? I think we have been looking at the Prodigal Son parable with Western narrow-focused eyes and as a result , I ’ d like to broaden our view and change the approach … just a little bit .
First , let ’ s look at the parable ’ s name . Hebraic titles for books or paragraphs come from a word or phrase from the first line , for example the book of Numbers is B ’ midbar – ‘ In the Wilderness ,’ Shema , V ’ ahavta – ‘ Hear , and Love ’ are for Duet . 6:4-9 . I would suggest , as others might , that the parable should be named “ A Father Who Had Two Sons .” Many times in Jewish teachings , a story or parable is more about the past connections as much as it is about the present and future circumstances . I want to suggest that we reframe this parable as being about our Father God and His Kingdom plan from the beginning , and how this is much greater than a narrative concerning our sin and redemption story . call to “ love Ishmael , the Arab people , into the Kingdom of God to also know Yeshua as their Messiah .” He explained that even though Ishmael wasn ’ t the Son of Promise , he was still the first born of Abraham and Isaac had an obligation to honor the older brother . Likewise , Jacob still must honor and love Esau as the first born even though Jacob / Israel is the Son of Promise . As with ancient covenants and promises , these agreements continue throughout the generations as God ’ s covenant with Israel continued and was expanded upon in further generations .
Since Adam and Chavah were cast out of the garden there seemed to always be a struggle for the Blessing with two sons , often seen as the Wayward Son and the Son of Promise : Cain and Abel
A Heart of Abraham for the Nations
In 2018 , I was struck by Asher Intrater ’ s charge to the Messianic Jewish movement at a Tikkun Restore Family Conference about having “ a Heart of Abraham for the nations ” and in our
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