Musings from Israel, Part Four

Of Olive Trees and Tassels

Another theme that we discussed throughout our tour of Israel was the concept of the grafted branch. In Romans 11, the apostle Paul explains this metaphor this way: the "cultivated" olive tree is Israel. The "wild" olive trees are the Gentiles. Some of the branches of the cultivated tree were broken off, because of unbelief. The Gentile believers were cut from the wild olive trees and grafted into the cultivated tree (11:17). Paul exhorts the Gentile believers in Rome not to "boast against" the Jewish branches (11:18), and he looks forward to the day when Jews and Gentiles will unite together in Christ (11:26-27).


Isaiah 2:2 gives us a picture of this, "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations (goyim, gentiles) shall flow to it."

Another interesting prophecy by Zechariah reminded us of the tassels we had dicussed earlier: "The LORD of Hosts says this: 'In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.'" Some English versions translate "robe" as "sleeve." Others, "hem" or "skirt." I do not think it is a stretch to believe that Zechariah's prophecy is of Gentiles from every nation grabbing hold of the tassel of one Jewish man, believing that God is with Him. And of course, I believe that one Jewish man was Jesus of Nazareth.