Lost tribes of Israel

With the understanding of the House of Israel, that is, the 10 lost tribes, we recognize that this landscape is our homeland. It is hidden deep in our hearts. Just looking at the landscape makes many siblings identify with this area. And now a time has come when our Father awakens a strong longing in us.

In Scripture, we find two goals for the House of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) to which almost everything else is subordinate:

1 The return to the land of Israel
2 Reunification with Judah

Ezekiel 37 is THE chapter on this subject.

Interestingly, YHVH compares our condition in the nations very impressively there:

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord G-d; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord. Ezek 37:12-14

So when the house of Israel is still among the nations and not in its homeland (Israel), then spiritually speaking, it is living in graves. And that is truly not a place where one would want to remain, is it?

The point is that His people, just like the prodigal son, are coming home. Back to the Promised Land.

The prophet Ezekiel then describes the reunification of the two houses.

More precisely, it says:

And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all. Ezek 37:22

Did you notice the important clue?

YHWH clearly states here that he will bring the two peoples together on the mountains of Israel.

And simply because there are more and more believers at this time who have this region on their hearts, I believe that the time of return (also for the Northern Kingdom, the House of Israel) has begun.

In recent years, there have already been several (human) attempts by believers who feel they belong to the house of Israel to settle there. But so far, none of the projects have been a resounding success.

But the time is ripe. We must pray and seek how He wants to implement it.

I believe that a crucial key is to long wholeheartedly for the reunification of Judah and Ephraim (House of Judah and House of Israel).

There are several passages in the Bible that show that an initiative will come from Ephraim:

For example, in 2 Chronicles 15, we read how some from the northern kingdom (House of Israel) joined the southern kingdom (House of Judah). This passage can certainly be understood prophetically.

This becomes very clear when we continue reading Ezekiel:

I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah,... Ezek 37:19b

The two sticks do not simply come together, but the stick of Ephraim is added to the stick of Judah! That is a huge difference!

But what might this rapprochement look like in concrete terms?

This is a question we should consider carefully, because it is essential. Only when we find an answer here can we move on and pursue the two major goals.

timothyu said:

Question: Who broke away from who?

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The Northern Kingdom (Israel/Ephraim) broke away from the House of David (Judah).

Those who want to return to unity must return to where G-d's name dwells (Zion). Since the north had brought about separation through rebellion and idolatry, reunification is an act of restoration under the original order. The lost part is reinserted into the foundation that G-d had laid through David.

timothyu said:

“So the Lord said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son. Yet I will not tear the whole kingdom from him, but will give him one tribe for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen’” (1 Kings 11:11-13).

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The verses you quote from the Book of Kings show the turning point in Solomon's reign, when his apostasy led to serious, long-term political consequences for Israel.

To what extent does this fit with my statement that the north brought about the separation through rebellion and idolatry?

What G-d announced as judgment was historically accomplished through the rebellion of the northern tribes (Ephraim). Through his idolatry, Solomon provided the spiritual justification for the coming division. The judgment on the unity of the kingdom was already made before the actual rebellion of the people.

Both perspectives describe in a sense the same event from different angles: the theological level (G-d's judgment) and the political-human level (the rebellion).

Despite Solomon's transgressions, G-d remained faithful to the house of Judah because He had made an unconditional promise to David that was not dependent on the perfection of his successors. The preservation of Judah is a sign of G-d's faithfulness to His word, even when people fail.

It is a portrayal in which G-d's sovereignty and human action intertwine, with G-d's faithfulness to His promise remaining intact.

timothyu said:

Isn't that like saying the Japanese attack had nothing to do with fuel embargoes? Did not the North rebel due to taxes and oppression?

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It is true that the north rebelled primarily against economic exploitation. Taxes and corvée labor were the real triggers. Without this pressure, there would probably have been no popular support for secession.

Is it not therefore the South's fault that led to secession?

The answer is: both sides are to blame, but to varying degrees.

The south is guilty of destroying unity, the north is guilty of choosing the path (idolatry) it took after the separation. In biblical logic, the injustice of one (oppression by the south) does not justify the injustice of the other (apostasy from G-d in the north).

To stick with your example: The South (the USA) exerted the massive pressure through the embargo (taxation/oppression) that escalated the situation. The North (Japan) made the decision to attack (rebellion/idolatry).

timothyu said:

As did Solomon, no?

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The Bible leaves no doubt that the House of David (Solomon and Rehoboam) set the ball rolling.

Although the North had just cause for complaint, the rebellion under Jeroboam is considered a rebellion against the House of David, to whom G-d had given an eternal promise.

The schism is the result of a tragic synergy: G-d pronounces judgment (because of Solomon's sins). The South provides the cause (through pride and greed). The North carries out the division (through rebellion and apostasy from the Temple).

timothyu said:

So will not a reversal of this heal the rift (rebellion)? (The North carries out the division (through rebellion and apostasy from the Temple).)

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The question of reversal leads to the core of prophetic hope that G-d will reunite the two sticks (Judah and Israel) into one people in His hand. The actual healing takes place where both sticks become one in G-d's hand.

Theoretically, a reversal would have brought about healing, but in practice there were two major obstacles: Visiting the Temple in Jerusalem implicitly meant recognizing the sovereignty of the South over all of Israel. The rebellion of the North developed a momentum of its own and cemented the division.

In the history of the divided kingdoms, there have been at least several moments when reunification, or at least deep reconciliation, seemed within reach. Interestingly, these attempts usually failed because of pride on one side or apostasy on the other.

If pride and apostasy were the causes, then humility and a return to the center (G-d/the Temple) should bring healing.

In biblical logic, healing the division is the sum of repentance on both sides. Ultimately, this happens in the image of the Messiah, who unites both roles: He is the rightful king (south), but serves instead of ruling, and he is the true temple (north), who leads people back to G-d

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, Eph 2:14a

Healing occurs when the South (Judah) gives up its greed for sole election and the North (Christians) ends its rebellion against its biblical roots.

Both groups are united by the hope of the coming of the Messiah and the final restoration of the Kingdom of G-d. There is enormous healing power in this shared hope.

What can Christians and Jews do today to heal the division?

G-d calls both sides to repentance. The prophets speak to Judah and Israel. They speak of a repentance of the foot (return to the covenant), while Hellenized Christianity often turns this into a repentance of the head (change your mind).

The different emphasis on repentance has not only cemented the divide between Judaism and Christianity over the centuries, but has also continually deepened it.

In Judaism, repentance without action (mitzvah) is inconceivable. One can be convinced in one's mind, but if one's feet do not walk back to the law (Torah), repentance is incomplete. Through Hellenization and later through the Reformation, Christianity has made repentance of the mind (and heart) absolute.

The conversion of the prophets was always tied to a specific place. It was about returning to Zion, to the temple, to concrete life in the Promised Land. Hellenized Christianity universalized and spiritualized conversion. Jerusalem became a heavenly state, no longer a city of stone. In doing so, it lost its connection to the concrete, physical roots of the covenant. Those who repent only in their heads need no land and no people; they need only an idea. This has greatly fueled Christian replacement theology.

Interestingly, we are now experiencing a phase in which many Christians are beginning to rediscover the repentance of the foot.

There is a growing movement of Christians who are once again engaging with Jewish festivals and the Hebrew Bible. They realize that a mere change of mind often remains empty if it does not lead back to the rhythm of G-d (the covenant). On the other hand, there is a growing realization in Jewish-Christian dialogue that both sides stand before the same G-d, who desires the unity of the two sticks