Hebrew History 101 | From Byword to Birthright | Reclaiming Our Divine Identity

Intro:

Reclaiming identity is the ultimate act of defiance against the "bywords" of the nations. Our history didn't start on a slave ship, and our identity isn't a mystery—it’s just been hidden from us like an old family secret waiting for the right generation to uncover it. We’ve heard the whispers, we’ve felt the pull, but for too long, many of us have carried names and labels given to us by others – bywords that feel like heavy stones tied to our ankles. Derogatory names that define our skin color - nigger, spook, coon, negro, Black; a name that defines a culture - Afro-American; a name that define nations - African-American; and a name that define our status to a nation - Foundational Black Americans. Whether they are slurs that weaponize our skin, national labels that anchor us to our captors, or titles that define us by our status in a strange land, these are all but bywords - masks of the diaspora designed to hide the face of the Hebrew.

Know Yourself through"Identity":

• The Ivri Awakening: Moving from the "other side" back to the source.
• Covenant vs. Status: Shifting from being a "citizen" of a nation to a "member" of a Covenant.
• Byword Breaking: The spiritual act of rejecting labels like “African-American" or "Black" or “Foundational Black American” in favor of "Israel."
• Genealogical Sovereignty: Reclaiming the right to define ourselves by our Creator’s standards, not the world's census.

The Power of the Shift

Re-member, Deuteronomy 28:37 wasn't just a punishment; it was a prophetic marker/identifier. If we are the only people on earth who fit the description of being "lost" under a sea of ever-changing labels, then the labels themselves prove our true identity. When we stop calling ourselves what the nations call us, we force the world to see the "Peculiar Treasure" (Exodus 19:5) that has been hidden in plain sight. “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine…”

We’ve been called everything but our true selves, and in doing so, we've often lost the keys to our own power, our own culture, and our connection to the Most High. But what if those 'bywords' are merely disguises, meant to obscure a divine crown? What if the greatest act of liberation isn't just knowing our history, but boldly claiming our identity?

The Erasing of the Byword

For centuries, our people have lived under the curse of the "byword." The prophet Jeremiah lamented the destruction and the identity crisis that would befall the nation, saying, "He has made me a byword to all people" (Lamentations 3:14). And in Deuteronomy, it was prophesied, "And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all nations whither YAH shall lead thee." (Deuteronomy 28:37).

These prophecies speak to a deliberate act: to strip us of our true names, our heritage, and replace them with labels of shame and confusion. When we embrace the identity of Hebrew – the Ivri, the "one who crosses over" – we are not just adopting a new name. We are dismantling centuries of false narratives. We are throwing off the labels of "Black," "Negro," "African American,” “Foundational Black American (as sole descriptors), and all the limitations those bywords have placed upon us, both from the outside world and, perhaps more painfully, from within our nation.

Identity: The Key to Culture and Nation

Knowing who we are is the first step to knowing what we are called to do. When we reclaim our Hebrew identity, we unlock a treasure chest of culture, laws, and a national purpose that predates any colonial boundary.

• Our Culture: Our identity reveals a rich culture of festivals, dietary laws, family structures, and a way of worship rooted in the Tanakh. This isn't about adopting someone else's culture; it's about remembering our own. "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." (Exodus 19:5-6). This is our cultural mandate, tied directly to our identity.
• Our Laws: The Torah is not just a book of rules; it's the constitution of our nation. It defines justice, mercy, and righteousness. When we identify as Hebrew, we understand that these laws are our heritage, given to us for our good, to set us apart. "He sheweth His word unto Jacob, His statutes and His judgments unto Israel. He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye YAH." (Psalm 147:19-20). Our laws are unique to our identity.
• Our Nation: While scattered, the prophets consistently speak of the nation of Israel as a unified people with a shared destiny. This identity transcends geographical borders and speaks to a spiritual and blood lineage that is eternal. "For thus saith YAH; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel." (Jeremiah 33:17). This promise of a continuous lineage is tied to our identity as a nation.

Identity: Knowing Our GOD

Perhaps most profoundly, identifying as Hebrew brings us into a deeper, more intimate relationship with the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is not a generic deity; He is the Elohim of our ancestors, who revealed Himself specifically to our people. When we shed the bywords, we shed the confusion that has often clouded our understanding of His character and His covenant with us.

"Know therefore that YAH thy Elohim, He is GOD, the faithful Elohim, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations" (Deuteronomy 7:9). This is a GOD who remembers His covenant with His people. When we know who we are, we know whose we are.

Conclusion:

The journey from byword to birthright is not just an academic exercise; it is a spiritual awakening. It's about looking in the mirror and seeing not the reflection of a label imposed by man, but the divine image of a people chosen by the Most High. When we embrace our Hebrew identity, we are not just joining a movement; we are stepping into our destiny. We are reclaiming our culture, recognizing our laws, and, most importantly, coming into a full understanding of our GOD. Let us shed every byword, every stigma, and every limitation. Let us rise in the knowledge of who we truly are: a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. The time for hiding in the shadows of false identities is over. Our roots are deep, our lineage is divine, and our name is Hebrew.

GOD still loves you, Israel. The call remains the same: Choose Life, Choose Blessing, Choose Undivided Devotion. Repent, Return, and be free from the shadows of gross darkness.

I hope this blog post has been helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Shalom qodesh qadasheem - the “set apart ones.”