In this posting we will examine three passages of Scripture that address the fact that the 12 Tribes of the House (nation) of Israel were chosen by God to become His people. In Genesis 28:13-15 we find Him speaking to Jacob, the grandson of Abraham and son of Isaac, concerning the two sons of Joseph– Ephraim and Manasseh–who would henceforth carry the name “Israel.” Their descendants, known Biblically as “Israel,” would become history’s greatest commonwealth of nations and greatest single nation respectively as they multiplied and became like the dust of the earth for number, spreading out from the Holy Land to the north, south, east and west. It is important that we do not lose track of the fact that this birthright prophecy, spoken by the God of the Old Testament Himself, concerned only the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh–not the other tribes, including Judah (the Jews). Also to be remembered is the fact that the birthright prophecy would not come to fruition until the “time of the end” (Gen. 41:1,22-26), the time in which we now live. Biblical history records that, due to their rebellion against the Law of the Lord, the ten northern tribes, called the “House of Israel,” fell to the Assyrians in 720 B.C. and were scattered throughout the world–north, south, east and west. Then in 585 B.C. Judah was defeated and enslaved by Babylon for the same reason. Seventy years later some 42,000 Jews would be allowed to return to the Promised Land to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple. Meanwhile, the other tribes, having been scattered throughout the world where they became like the heathen among whom they lived, would become the “Lost Sheep of the House of Israel”–lost to the world, but not to God.

In Deuteronomy 14:2 is recorded one of the premier statements relative to God’s will for the 12 tribes of Israel: “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be a peculiar people to Himself, above all nations that are upon the earth.” The entire nation that came from the loins of Abraham was created for one purpose–TO REPRESENT GOD TO THE HEATHEN (GENTILE) WORLD. Israel was to lead the world to Him through their lives and testimonies. Israel failed to fulfil their commission. Note in the passage that God, speaking through Moses, tells the Israelites that they are holy nation because they have been chosen by Him. They were, as we in the Western world say, “innocent until proven guilty.” Israel proved herself to be guilty, which caused the Lord to curse them with defeat, slavery and global scattering.

However, contrary to church teaching, God’s chosen people never stopped being His chosen people. Even though He divorced them from Himself, His eye never left them. This is brought out in numerous Scriptures that will be examined in the future. For example, Malachi 3:6 states that the Lord does not change His attitude toward the sons of Jacob (Israel). Contrary to popular religious opinion, Gentiles have not replaced Israel as His chosen race. Their commission–to carry His light (gospel) to the Gentiles and backslidden Israelites (spiritual Gentiles)–is being fulfilled in these last days via the internet, television, radio and face-to-face ministry as God’s chosen ministers carry the Word of the Word–Jesus Christ (Jn. 1:1-4,14/ Rev. 9:13) to the world. Those–Israelites and Gentiles alike–who believe and obey His Word will receive salvation upon His return to earth. L.J.