Modern Day Movie "The Lost"

There is this theory that none will be lost if they believe in Jesus. Today we will look at such theory.

Much has been said and written about the lost tribes of Israel, and many fanciful theories have been invented in regard to them. We will not attempt to follow any of these lines of argument, but will speak of those tribes which are truly lost.

The tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, and Manasseh, not only had a part in the land of Palestine, but that their names are immortalized, and will be represented in the kingdom of God throughout eternity, while the names of Ephraim and Dan sink into oblivion. They are the lost tribes of Israel.

Why was proud Ephraim, who was the strength of the kingdom of Israel, and Dan, who was surpassed only by Judah in the number of its warriors when they entered the promised land, left out of the final great gathering of Israel as tribes?

Ephraim was the son of an Egyptian princess who was an idolater, as far as we have any record.

It is very probable that most of Ephraim's life was spent among the Egyptians, for we can hardly suppose that, with his proud connections, he associated much with the Israelites in Goshen, until "a king arose that knew not Joseph". Exodus 1:8.

Ephraim was about twenty-one years of age when he received Jacob's blessing. He had the godly example of his father before him for many years; "for Joseph lived to see Ephraim's children of the third generation". Genesis 50:23

Ephraim, as a tribe, had many advantages; but they failed to profit by them. They were envious and jealous, always sensitive over supposed slights. Judges 8:1; 2 Samuel 19:41-43

After the death of Solomon, the kingdom was divided, and from that time, the history of Ephraim is the history of the kingdom of Israel.

Jeroboam, their first king, was an Ephrathite. It was God that rent the kingdom out of the hands of Rehoboam, and gave ten tribes to Jeroboam; 1 Kings 11:29-31, and if he had walked humbly with God, an entirely different history would have been written of Ephraim.

It was the same spirit of jealousy and suspicion that had marred the history of his tribe, that influenced Jeroboam to make the golden calves, and set them up in Bethel and Dan, thus establishing a system of idolatrous worship.

Hosea gives the reason for the downfall of Ephraim: "Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned". Hosea 7:8

God's kingdom, and the kingdoms of the world, are entirely distinct. No one can serve God and mammon. Ephraim was a cake not turned; he did not have a thorough experience in the things of God. One cannot mix himself among the people of the world, spending his strength in the pursuit of wealth and fame, and at the same time be a member of the true Israel of God.

The Lord pleaded with Ephraim, saying, "How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?" Hosea 11:8. Again, He said, "I have written to him the great things of My law, but they were counted as a strange thing." Hosea 8:12

Idolatry was the great sin of Ephraim; he failed to appreciate the sacred things of God. After the pleadings of the Lord were rejected, then the word went forth, "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." Hosea 4:17

"My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto Him" Hosea 9:17, nor accept His love.

There are many idolaters in the world today, traveling the same road over which Ephraim passed. They are not worshiping idols made of metal, wood, or stone, for the popular gods of the present day are not of that form; they are money, wealth, pleasure, and high position. God is calling after them, but they, like Ephraim, are joined to their idols. Like Ephraim of old, they are reckoned as a part of the church of God, but the theatre and pleasure resorts have more attraction for them than the house of prayer, and worldly society is more enjoyable than the companionship of saints. They will one day be taken captive by a King greater than the kings of Assyria and Babylon. The great King of all kings will arise and shake terribly the earth.

"In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they have made each one for himself to worship, to the moles, and to the bats, . . . for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly, the earth." Isaiah 2:20,21

What are our idols?

Steven N. Haskells "The Cross and Its Shadow", pg 368

Next posting we will look at Dan.