History has shown that the nation of Israel was divorced from God, scattered throughout the known world with her identity unknown, lost to history, the world and to herself, but not to her od.  Later, when He would send His apostles out with the Kingdom message He, through His Holy Spirit, would direct them to the “Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” where they would remind them of who they were and would tell them that their Messiah had come.  Some would believe, answer His call, form congregations (ekklesias–churches) where they were and walk in obedience to His Law.  He would appoint pastors over them to lead them on the strait and narrow way that leads to eternal life.  Alas, only a few would do so.  The vast majority of Israelites would cling to the heathen religions of the Gentiles among whom they and their ancestors had live for many generations (Mat. 7:13,14).  Many would be called to follow their Messiah, but few would be chosen for having answered His call (Mat. 20:16).  As the following will show, God’s plan all along was to regather His lost sheep and bring them back to Himself.

In Ezekiel 34:1-16 God sees His people Israel “scattered upon all the face of the earth” as sheep without a shepherd.  In verses 11,12 He states: “For thus says the Lord, I, even I will search for My sheep and seek them out.  As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered, so will I seek out MY sheep and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered ….”  The God of the Old Testament is saying that He personally will be among His lost sheep and will (with the help of His apostles) seek them out (Jer. 31:10).  Note that Jesus said that He and His Father were one (spiritually)–Jn. 10:30.  The Word (Heb.–Yeshua–Jn. 1:1-4,14)–the God of the Old Testament–in obedience to the other member of the Godhead came to earth as a man like all other men in order to “… save His people from their sins” by proving that they could walk the walk of holiness as He (Jesus) did and thereby qualify to spend eternity (1 Jn. 2:6) with Him in the Kingdom of God (Rev. 3:21).  The God Who came to save Israel is clearly Jesus of Nazareth, for “God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world and received into glory (II Tim. 3:16).  This was clearly Jesus about Whom the prophets said: “He would be called the Son of God.”  As the Prophet Isaiah said: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and will bring forth a son and they will call his name Emmanuel, which interpreted is God with us” (Mat. 1:23).  Isaiah also called Him “The Everlasting Father” (9:6).

Jesus of Nazareth made it clear for whom He came to earth.  “I have come only for the lost sheep of the House of Israel” (Mat. 15:24).  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:11).   “The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Mat. 18:11).  When His time on earth was up, Jesus appointed His apostles to carry on the work He had begun, saying to them: “As the Father has sent Me, so I send you.”  A study of their epistles reveals that they found the “Lost Sheep of the House of Israel” where they had been scattered in Western Europe, Asia and in the “Isles of the Sea,” north and west of Palestine.

God prophesied that He would regather scattered Israel so as to keep His Everlasting Covenant He had made with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel).  As He determined, He will restore His Kingdom as it was under King David.  Recall that His disciples asked Him when He would restore the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6).  In Acts 15:16 we find the prophets saying: “After this I will return and will build again the tabernacle (family and empire) of David which has been destroyed.  I will again build it and restore its ruins and set it up.”

In Jeremiah 23 God pronounces woe upon the false prophets who have destroyed His sheep spiritually, prompting Him to scatter them throughout the world where we find them in these last days of the age.  He promises to gather them again unto Himself.  “And I will set shepherds over them who will feed them; and they will fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither will they be lacking, says the Lord.  Behold, the days come when I will raise up unto David a righteous Branch (Christ), and a King shall reign over them and prosper, and will execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jer. 23:4,5).

This King is Jesus Christ, the living God.  “In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will dwell in safety.  This is the name Israel’s Savior will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jer. 23:6).  In Luke 1:32,33 we find this written about Him: “And the Lord God will give unto Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the House of Jacob (Israel) forever, and there will be no end of His kingdom.”  Isaiah wrote: “For unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulder, and His name will be called WONDERFUL, COUNSELOR, THE MIGHTY GOD, THE EVERLASTING FATHER, THE PRINE OF PEACE.  There will be no end to His government, peace, the throne of David and His kingdom.  He will order it and establish it with judgment and justice from henceforth forever.  The zeal of the Lord will perform this” (9:6,7).

Hear the Word of the Lord: the risen Christ is going to return to take the Throne of David and reign over the whole House of Israel forever.  This was made possible when Israel was redeemed without money after having sold herself for nothing (Isa. 52:3).  The following chapter tells of the terrible price Jesus paid to redeem His lost sheep: “He was wounded for OUR (Israel’s) transgressions (Law-breaking–1 Jn. 3:4); He was bruised for OUR iniquities (Lawlessness).  The chastisement of OUR peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are (physically) healed” (vs 5).

Jesus the Christ (anointed One) came to seek and  to save the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel.  He gave His life for His sheep.  On Calvary He redeemed them from their sins and rose again the third day, triumphing over death.  Thereby He opened the way to eternal life for all, including those Gentiles who would obey Him, thereby becoming spiritual Israelites.  When He returns to take the throne of David He will reign over the House of Israel forever.

The promise of the restoration of Israel will come only after a great cleansing which God Himself will do for those who truly seek Him.  In Ezekiel 16-38 He makes this clear: “Thus says the Lord God; ‘I will yet for this (cleansing) be required by the House of Israel, to do it for them.”  Then, and only then, will Israel be ready to receive their God.  L.J.