THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL (10): Did God Forget About Ephraim and Judah?

 

We have seen that the Northern Kingdom of Israel (also known as the House of Ephraim) did not repent, even after continually being called by the Lord.

Their lack of repentance resulted in the dispersion and later assimilation of the ten Northern Tribes, first to Assyria and later to the rest of the pagan nations of the world. Having departed from their Hebrew roots, it was easy for them to assimilate to the pagan cultures of the people living in the different places where they were now dwelling. A few years later they no longer seemed Hebrew but rather acted and lived just as any other gentile. They did not die or disappear (at least in God’s eyes), but rather became one with the nations of the earth.

We may wonder: Did God forever forget about the lost sheep of Israel? Let’s see what Jeremiah says about the House of Israel (that is, the ten northern tribes, also known as “Ephraim”).

(Jeremiah 31:6-10)  For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: 'Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God.'"  (7)  For thus says the LORD: "Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, and raise shouts for the chief of the nations; proclaim, give praise, and say, 'O LORD, save your people, the remnant of Israel.'  (8)  Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame, the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here.  (9)  With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.  (10)  "Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the coastlands far away; say, 'He who scattered Israel will gather him, and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.'

What does Ephraim represent in the eyes of the Lord? Ephraim is His firstborn and He has not forgotten about them. The Lord scattered them, but He has not lost track of each one of them, wherever they are. And during the last days the Lord will gather them and bring them back to their Land.

Even though Ephraim left, just as the prodigal son did, there will come a day when he will return Home. And the Father will be waiting for him with His arms open wide (Luke 15:11-32).

THE LOST SHEEP WILL BE FOUND

Today we know that the House of Judah is represented by the “Jewish People”, but where are the “Lost Sheep” of the House of Israel?

Hosea’s message was directed to the House of Israel (Ephraim), and here is one of the words he said about them:

(Hosea 1:10)  Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, "You are not my people," it shall be said to them, "Children of the living God."

The apostle Paul took this prophetic word from Hosea and explained it in his letter to the Romans.

(Romans 9:24-27)  even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?  As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" (Hosea 2:23) "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" (Hosea 1:10) And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved” (Isaiah 10:22-23).

Paul understood perfectly that the “House of Israel” was then among the gentiles, having been assimilated into all the nations.

Peter also mentioned Hosea’s prophecy:

(I Peter 2:10)  Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

…and then he adds:

(I Pedro 2:25) For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Jesus was Jewish and ministered to the Jews. However, he mentioned other sheep:

(John 10:16)  And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.

Who was the Messiah sent for during his first coming?

(Matthew 15:24)  He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

It is interesting to note that, even though Jesus was among the Jews, few of them received him.

(John 1:11-13)  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  (12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  (13)  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

It is sad. However, Paul explains that this “blindness” (not recognizing the Messiah) is part of God’s plan. The apostle Paul reveals this mystery in his letter to the Romans, chapter 11.

(Romans 11:7-12)  What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,  (8)  as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day."  (9)  And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them;  (10)  let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever."  (11)  So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous.  (12)  Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!

God allowed Judah to be blinded so that salvation could also be attained by the lost sheep of the house of Israel and by the gentiles.

  

Knowing this, the apostle Paul exhorts us to not see ourselves as superior to them, or to slight them for not recognizing the Messiah. Better yet, we must be grateful because in their hardness God softened our hearts. And there will be a day when their eyes will be opened and they will recognize their Messiah.

(Romans 11:17-26)  But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree,  (18)  do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.  (19)  Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in."  (20)  That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.  (21)  For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.  (22)  Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.  (23)  And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again.  (24)  For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.  (25)  Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.  (26)  And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob".

I suggest that you read the entire chapter of Romans 11.

In our next study we will continue reading what the prophets have to say about the Restoration of the Two Houses…