The Lost Ten Tribes
Have you heard that ten of Israel’s twelve tribes are lost? After Solomon, Israel split in two, with Jeroboam king over the ten tribes of the north, and Rehoboam king over Judah and Benjamin in the south. Two hundred plus years later, the northern kingdom, Israel, was taken captive by Assyria, and never returned to the land.
“Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away into exile to Assyria, and put them in Halah and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded; they would neither listen nor do it.” (2 Kings 18:11–12)
Those tribes never returned to Israel, although individuals from them may have. The ten tribes were assimilated in the foreign lands and lost their Jewish identity.
The Bible tells us why: they did not obey the voice of the LORD. They would neither listen to the Lord, nor do what He said.
When Israel split into the northern and southern kingdoms, the northern king, Jeroboam, excluded the Levites from serving as priests and set up his own priests for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which he had made (2 Chronicles 11:14-15).
Some People from the Ten Tribes Moved South
Those who set their hearts on seeking the LORD God of Israel (Levites and people from each of the ten tribes) moved to Jerusalem, part of the southern kingdom. So the southern kingdom of Judah and Benjamin now contained people from all twelve tribes. The people who moved from the ten tribes were now part of the kingdom of Judah.
Moreover, the priests and the Levites who were in all Israel stood with him from all their districts. For the Levites left their pasture lands and their property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had excluded them from serving as priests to the Lord. He set up priests of his own for the high places, for the satyrs and for the calves which he had made. Those from all the tribes of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord God of Israel followed them to Jerusalem, to sacrifice to the Lord God of their fathers.” (2 Chronicles 11:13–16)
The Costs of Moving South
It cost to move south. The Bible doesn’t tell us, so I’m speculating. But the people who determined to seek the Lord had to leave behind their homes, some of their friends and relatives, and probably some of their belongings. They probably faced opposition and ridicule from those who were not seeking the Lord and decided to remain. When they arrived in Judah, the southern kingdom, they had to find a place to live, and get settled. They chose to lose in order to gain who was most important to them: the Lord.
A Remnant Stayed Faithful
This piece of history is fascinating to me. My thought is that the Lord God purged many unfaithful from Israel. Not all Israel is Israel (Romans 9:6). Over and over we see God saving just a remnant. Might this have been a time when the Lord saved just a remnant and let the unfaithful go into captivity, never to return to the Promised Land?
Application
Remember, what is written in the Bible is written for our instruction (Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11). Is there an application for us?
At the very least, the lesson is that we must stay faithful regardless of our circumstances.
What are you–what am I–prepared to lose in order to follow your–my–Lord?
Let us determine to seek Almighty God.
No matter what.
