Israel

How do YOU fit into the Bible? In His Word, God made promises to the nation of Israel. They are the offspring of the 12 sons of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel by God, see Genesis 32:28, Genesis 35:10). But Israel, you say, is a small nation over in the Middle East so why do we care so much about that? Jesus came to this earth and was crucified for our sins and arose to eternal glory, and then the promise of eternal life was extended to not only Israel but to the “Gentiles” as well.

Ah! True! But do you understand who Israel really is? The Bible and history tell us. Of the 12 tribes, first the 10 northern tribes were defeated and taken into captivity by the king of Assyria, (around 600 B.C.) taken away and then they were scattered, something that God had warned he would do when they wouldn’t listen to Him, over and over and over. They are known as the “lost tribes of Israel”.

Two hundred years after the 10 northern tribes were taken, the 2 remaining tribes of Judah and Benjamin (known collectively as Jews) were taken into captivity by somebody else, the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar. However, we know where most of the Jews are – they returned from that seventy-year captivity in Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and re-populate the country of Israel, a subject that is well defined in the Old Testament, see the books of Nehemiah and Ezra, particularly. Yes there are Jews living throughout the world, and in general, they know that they are Jews and can trace their genealogy (and DNA, now) back to those olden times.

But those 10 lost tribes – where are they? Who are they? Whatever happened to them? First off, God has not lost them, even if they don’t know who they are, He does. He counts every hair on their heads (Matthew 10:30). There are many mentions of them in the Bible, and we know from history that after they were taken to Assyria, they later traveled over the Caucasus mountains of southern Russia, and went north… and eventually migrated to Europe, and all along the way, they multiplied greatly.

In the great migrations from Europe to the North and South Americas and further in the more current history of the world, especially the 1800s, many of those “Europeans” who arrived in the New World and became Canadians, Americans, Mexicans, Brazilians, Australians… well, put two and two together – the Christian countries of today are no doubt populated by many who don’t know that their ancestors were once part of the ten lost tribes of Israel, but who have the words of God written on their hearts. God said, “go forth and multiply, you will be like the sands of the seas and like the stars of heaven in multitude”.  (see Jacob reminding God that He would multiply Jacob’s offspring like the “sands of the sea” which could not be numbered for multitude in Genesis 32:12.)

Often, when we read the Bible, common sense is required. Use your common sense to understand that Bible subjects are really not difficult or confusing, but pretty much stated in plain language. We need to use our common sense and do some study to understand what is being discussed.

Then apply those ideas to current history, all the while consulting and understanding what the history of the Bible and the prophets are talking about, and confusion will melt away. Once you have an understanding of the peoples and the prophecies of the Bible, your life will be on point! You will be able to move forward with strength and understanding and knowledge of the Truth, and in the process you will find great peace.

God bless you in that endeavor. If I can help in any way, please let me know, and I will do my best.

Thanks for reading, and I pray that this post will bless you and your family in a big way.