Aspects of the Hebrew Way: The Supporting Roles of Aunts & Uncles, Brothers & Sisters

Since ancient days in biblical lands shepherds protected their flocks at night by using circular sheepfolds constructed of thorns and briars. If stones were abundant, they would pile thorn bushes on top of the circular stacked stone enclosures. This allowed them to protect their flock at night from invading prey as well as keeping the flock from straying. The thorns acted as a protective wall and barrier for the precious flock so relied upon for the family’s sustenance.This same protection can be seen in the description of ancient Israel, acting as a type of Thorn camped in orderly formation surrounding the Tabernacle in the wilderness. The Tabernacle walls extended out into a vast sea of individual tents to the East, to the South, to the West and to the North, each of them under their individual standard or banner of their tribal family/Father’s House; three Tribes to the East – Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, three Tribes to the South – Reuben, Simeon, Gad, three Tribes to the West – Ephraim, Manessah, Benjamin, three Tribes to the North – Dan, Asher, Naphtali. Aaron and his sons, the Levite tribe, who were designated to fulfill specific responsibilities within the Tabernacle in its function in the protected inner area, also resided in one of the four sides of the Tabernacle walls among the twelve tribes. (Numbers 2:2-34)

If non-Israelitish neighbors with malicious intent attempted to penetrate into the center threatening their most sacred space, can you imagine the fierce resistance they would have encountered from the steadfast guards surrounding the Tabernacle? These Twelve Tribal Families not only stood physically as a protective shield against those who did not share their allegiance to the True and Living God, but also as a protection of God’s Laws as they spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally camped facing the most central place from which these sacred teachings rippled out. Imagine God’s truths from that inner most sacred and holy space penetrating the hearts and souls of Aaron and his sons, and all the rest of the twelve tribal families surrounding it. As those Holy truths were honored, respected and upheld through the actions of all those faithful husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren their lives began to deeply reflect them so clearly that the outside world held the Israelites in great fear and respect. As their personal choices, actions and character reflected who they were born to be and do, they ultimately created and supported an encircling reach around the entire House of Jacob as well as providing a witness of God and hope to the outside world.

Today, it is these same extended family members who are needed to support, lift, encircle and protect God’s laws and His Culture, our Original Culture & Story. Acting as symbolic thorn bushes for parents and grandparents, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts and Uncles, can stand as living embodied law-keepers offering life-giving truths through the quality of their character and actions to loved ones and neighbors. They are still needed to act as a shield and protection for that most sacred central space, and naturally extending out from that, as embodied shining lights for others outside of that society. This is what we call a virtuous community; created from a strength and power within each individual supporting a united vision, purpose and mission. Can you visualize the kind of society where individuals with the beauty of all their divine potential and gifts, stand united together in upholding and protecting of God’s Laws and truths? Let us hold that vision in our mind and heart and work towards creating that environment wherever we live.

How can all God-fearing people with differing opinions because of our different life trainings, support each other without judgment? Often today, in our modern culture, we come to understand life through many different experiences and perspectives which affect our paradigms, choices and differing parenting styles. It is easy to fall into traps of not living our value system, by misjudging or incorrectly labeling others who don’t align with our lifestyle; especially with many false ideologies and anti-family policies promoted by national governments. These self-deceptive thoughts threaten individuals and families and often cause an undermining ripple within our community of families. In reality those divisive thoughts are not from our own selves, but come from adversarial wolves who seek to enter the flock and destroy the most sacred central message and space within us and our community. Families are under attack more than ever and in many cases these protective “thorns” of extended family are being torn down, leaving families vulnerable. Those who recognize and strive to honor and uphold the Divine Law of our Creator and King, regardless of what religion they belong to, can join forces with others who hold that same vision and work in unity to combat these destructive ideologies and refuse to fall prey to these divisive thoughts, standing as one in truth to support order in families and society.

Imagine tribes of families standing united in their common devotion to Christ, encamped around that same symbolic central place, supporting each other in their diverse family cultures acting as one. Now imagine these families each raising children and youth with the same purpose and intent so that the message was lovingly clear and crisp without any confusion as the adults in the community understood their role to stand and support each other's families in upholding the sacred and protecting it from erosion. Could a community like this continue in its ideal state without supportive roles of extended family, those brothers and sisters of the parents? Those Aunts and Uncles?

This essential, protective role of all those encamped around the sacred center is especially seen as the aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters of the parent, support the parent’s role to teach, lead and pass on this right-doing original family culture.

As we unite with other like-minded families “encamped around the Tabernacle,” we support those teachings and each other. We stand as lionesses at the entrance protecting our young from corrupting ideologies and shield our tribe from harm. We cannot enjoy the fruits of this God-centered Tribal Family and Community without the crucial and essential support of all those family members connected to us. As these aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters act in protective support, they will receive reciprocal blessings from the support of other parents as they, in turn, engage in the same purpose to honor God and preserve this sacred center and purpose to “continue the house.”

Are you one of these Aunts and Uncles, Brothers and Sisters, acting in your role and stewardship to support those encamped around that most sacred space? Our communities of these tribal families are depending on you. It is our original role to cultivate this environment for Our Story to continue.

~ Excerpt from The Hebrew Model: Restoring Our Original Culture & Story. To get on the list to receive notice of this upcoming book, add your email HERE. Learn more on HouseoftheBook.org