The prophet Daniel is key in our study of Future Faith.
Historically, the Jewish people are/were both gathered and scattered.
At times, we find God’s chosen people at home in Jerusalem and greater Israel. Other times we find the Jewish family scattered throughout various parts of the world.
Today the Jewish people are both gathered and scattered.
- The largest population of Jews in a city are 3,214,800 living in Tel Aviv.
- The second largest population of Jews in a city is the 2,028,200 living in New York City.
- Gathered in Israel and scattered in New York City.
Gaining insight from the gathering and scattering of Israel, we understand God’s newly chosen people (those with faith in Jesus) are both gathered and scattered.
The Old Testament originally written in Hebrew (mostly), was translated into Greek by 132 BCE. This translation is named, “The Septuagint.” (LXX)
Deuteronomy 28:25
- English The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You
shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them.
- Hebrew 25 יִתֶּנְךָ֨ יְהוָ֥ה׀ נִגָּף֮ לִפְנֵ֣י אֹיְבֶיךָ֒ בְּדֶ֤רֶךְ אֶחָד֙ תֵּצֵ֣א אֵלָ֔יו וּבְשִׁבְעָ֥ה דְרָכִ֖ים תָּנ֣וּס
לְפָנָ֑יו וְהָיִ֣יתָ לְזַעֲוָ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֥וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ׃
- Greek δῴη σε κύριος ἐπικοπὴν ἐναντίον τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου ἐν ὁδῷ
μιᾷ ἐξελεύσῃ πρὸς αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐν ἑπτὰ ὁδοῖς φεύξῃ ἀπὸ προσώπου αὐτῶν καὶ ἔσῃ ἐν διασπορᾷ ἐν πάσαις ταῖς βασιλείαις τῆς γῆς
The Greek word, diaspora, became the name of the Jewish people scattered.
Maybe the following can be called a word group.
- Diaspora
- Dispersion
- Exile
Consider the three uses of diaspora in the New Testament.
- John 7:35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?
- James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
- 1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
This all becomes much more intriguing when we understand the parts of the word, diaspora.
- Dia – through (an intensifier)
- Spora – scattering of seed
- Spora – the root word for sperma, which means seed
Diaspora effectively means
- To thoroughly scatter
- Distribute seed widely
“A seed carries life meant to develop into a fruit-producing plant where it lands.”
Peabody, Larry. Job-Shadowing Daniel Walking the Talk at Work (p. 8). Outskirts Press. Kindle Edition.
Daniel is a diaspora seed intended to develop fruit-producing plants wherever he lands. Daniel 1:1-7
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. 3 Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family[a] and of the nobility, 4 youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. 5 The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. 6 Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. 7 And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
- God ‘diaspora-ed’ Daniel into a foreign, oppressive, anti-God, government job and life.
- Daniel, understanding God’s diaspora nature, excelled as a fruit-producing plant there. Daniel 1:17-21
- The greatest revelation of God’s future action was given to Daniel in his diaspora.
Through observation of Biblical patterns, it is very easy to see (prophetically) that your very near future includes you being gathered and scattered by God.
This gathering and scattering will include being placed, as a seed, in foreign, oppressive, anti-God type settings and situations.
By faith, you will excel as a fruit-producing plant there.
Your greatest revelation from God will come in that setting and in those situations.
Mindset Necessary for Gathered/Scattered Success
- This world is not my home. Hebrews 13:14, 1 Peter 2:11
- Neither gathered nor scattered is the preferred state. Trusting God’s placement is the preferred state. Ecclesiastes 11:4-6
- Pray for the success of both the gathered and the scattered. Jeremiah 29:7