The Lost Sheep and Tribes of Israel

I want to speak on a couple things that you or others may have wondered about. Though Jesus was born and raised in Judea, he would eventually send his disciples out way from there. We are always reminded of the Jews then and now, but seldom are the other tribes ever mentioned or spoken of as if they no longer existed. I am sure The Almighty did not just get up and forget His people nor would He allow those that meant something to Him to disappear or become nothing, especially after having Jacob bless them and showing what their future holds (Genesis 49:1-28).

Matthew 15:24 “But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

It is the words that Jesus uses that are the key to who he is truly speaking of. He knew where and who he lived among and he knew the scriptures. When he referred to the lost sheep of Israel he wasn’t speaking of the land of his birth, the land of Judea. Just as in the Old Testament speaks of Judah and Israel (Zechariah 11:14 “Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.”) as being separated they are separated even unto this day. That is why Jesus speaks of the lost sheep of the House of Israel. The House of Israel speaks of the Ten Tribes that had been taken away into captivity. They had been scattered from the land where they once were and they became lost. They had been lost to the world, but to Jesus they were not lost, he knew where they had been scattered to (2 Kings 17:23 “Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day”) and these lost sheep are the ones he sent his disciples to spread the news of the Kingdom of God being at hand, not to the Jews in Judea.

Another interesting wording that Jesus uses is found in the 23^rd verse of chapter 10 of Matthew. He says that you would not be able to go over the cities of Israel before his return. If this was based off of what we know of as Israel today then that could be easily done, but if you look at Israel being scattered throughout the world then you are looking at something that is more fitting to the words Jesus used. Also you have to look at the message that Jesus spoke of as well. Is it simply going around and telling people to repent and that the Kingdom of God is at hand? Or is he speaking of the Truth being preached throughout those cities? The Truth is one thing that is not being preached, so yes, I can see Jesus returning before the Truth is preached in all the cities of Israel. With that in mind, it is sad to say that what is being preached throughout the lands is but a shadow of the Truth and the Shepherds that are feeding the flocks, lies and milk, will in the end pay a high price when the one they say they serve returns (Ezekiel 34:1-10).

You may be in a land right now blessed by God because of the blessings handed down to it through one of the lost tribes of Israel. If that is the case then you may also be a descendant of one of the lost tribes of Israel without you even knowing it. So next time you speak or think of Israel just being made up of just Jews try to remember that there was a total of twelve of them and you may be part of one of those tribes.

Matthew 10:5-23 “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:[6] But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.[7] And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.[8] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.[9] Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses,[10] Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.[11] And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence.[12] And when ye come into an house, salute it.[13] And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you.[14] And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet.[15] Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.[16] Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.[17] But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;[18] And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.[19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.[20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.[21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.[22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.[23] But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.”

Genesis 49:1-28 “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.[2] Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.[3] Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:[4] Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.[5] Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.[6] O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.[7] Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.[8] Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.[9] Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?[10] The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.[11] Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:[12] His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.[13] Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.[14] Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:[15] And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.[16] Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.[17] Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.[18] I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.[19] Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.[20] Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.[21] Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.[22] Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:[23] The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:[24] But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)[25] Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:[26] The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.[27] Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.[28] All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.”