The Regathering of Israel

by Stephen Otto

Jeremiah 31:31-33 tells us that God will establish a new covenant with both the House of Israel and the House of Judah. In order to understand the new covenant, we must first understand the old covenant. God entered into the old covenant with the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. That covenant is widely recognized as being a type of marriage contract. All twelve tribes were included in the covenant. Later, the House of Israel was divided into two houses: the House of Israel, the ten northern tribes, and the House of Judah, the two southern tribes. There came a time when God divorced the House of Israel for breaking their covenant with Him (Jer. 3:6-11). So it makes sense that He tells us in Jeremiah 31:31-33 that He was going to establish a new covenant, a new marriage contract, with the House of Israel. But this begs the question, why did God tell us that He was also going to establish a new covenant with the House of Judah? The answer is obvious, because He knew that there would come a time when he would also divorce the House of Judah for breaking their covenant with Him.

The fact that God told us that He was going to establish a new covenant with both houses means that there would also come a time when He was going to start over again. He did this through one Man, Yeshua. Just as Moses was the mediator of the old covenant, Yeshua was the mediator of the new covenant (Heb. 9:15; 12:24). And as the mediator of the new covenant, Yeshua made this declaration: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My congregation, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Yeshua’s words, “My congregation,” are a reference to the New Testament Body of Messiah,” which is also known as the “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).

(Ex. 19:3-6; Deut. 7:6-12; Josh. 24:14-25; Neh. 1:5). (See my recent post titled "Did Elohim divorce Judah" for a more detailed explanation.)