Ephraim, my Dear Son
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By Liaf and Morfessa
A few short years back, we remember taking a short break in a teaching series to deal with the 911 tragedy and focus on comfort and what this site is about. Likewise, in light of the terrible bombings in London, we have to comfort our brothers and once again remember this in the light of what we teach. Since the British are part of the birthright tribe of Joseph, it naturally follows that they, along with the people of the United States, will be sorely hated. The jealousy of our enemies is simply staggering. Our heavenly Father made promises to us because of Abraham's faith and in the earthly example, it's like a jealous child trying to take away a gift that the parents gave to another child--- the jealous one seems to think they are more knowledgeable than the parents as to what is good and right. That child acts as if his or her wisdom is greater than that of the parents even though the parents were born beforehand. We find it rather amusing that a generation comes along and suddenly knows more than the eons of generations before them. In this case, not so amusing because the presumptuousness had deadly consequences. Well, we do not want to get too preachy regarding the obvious, but we do want to give some scriptural passages for comfort.
If we put into my Bible search engine "Ephraim" starting from Isaiah to the end of the Old Testament, we can find all the prophetic verses with Ephraim in them and select the ones that comfort in this time of need. And what do we find?
I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. (Jeremiah 31:9-10)
Try as one might to say otherwise, Ephraim is God's firstborn and as such received the blessings and love promised. The nations were to hear it and it was to be declared in the isles (so that they know). Israel was scattered, but then regathered in their new homeland as promised in II Samuel 7:10. There is yet to be another gathering in the future (Ezekiel 37) this time to combine the many nations of Israel into ONE nation again in their proper homeland. (When we think about it, isn't the land of Israel a primary basis for all this fighting to begin with? Everyone wants to grab the birthright that God only promised to the seed of faith, namely, the tribe of Joseph.) In all this, God promised His care as a shepherd. Please remember that.
Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 31:20)
This passage (as with many other passages) in the Bible does speak to times of trouble, namely, the "seven times" punishment for disobedience. Theologians, (and we as well) see there are TWO fulfillments to this punishment. One was called a "long" fulfillment of 2520 years (ending around 1800) from their original exile. We already did messages that during this time, colonization increased, industry thrived, the identity of the lost tribes came about (e.g. Sonnini Manuscript), and the birth of the United States came into being. There is yet a short fulfillment of a literal seven years: the Great Tribulation. In spite of the troubles ending after each empire and glorious times (and we can see both Britain and the US going downhill just like Israel did before their first captivity), the Lord promised His mercy. He will NOT forget Ephraim, that's for sure!
And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the LORD their God, and will hear them. And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the LORD. (Zechariah 10:6-7)
Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.
And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?
Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand......
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God. (Passages from Ezekiel 37)
If we were to say the Lord cares for Ephraim and has mercy on them, then that could be taken many ways unless there is a specific promise and goal as to how this will be accomplished. Sometimes, it is not enough to say, "Well, he died and went to heaven." As good intentioned that this may seem, sometimes it helps to know that the recipients of injustice will be vindicated. In these end-time prophecies, we see that both the house of Judah and (Ephraim-Joseph) are yet separate, but will be restored in the land again with the Lord God as their King. Now, God could not do that unless He watched over them to bring them back as a people again, could He? In addition, we see that Ephraim shall be as a mighty man and rejoice, as if drunk with wine. For those of you that know their Bibles, this is a play on an earlier prophecy where Ephraim had the reputation of being drunken (Isaiah 28:3). Ephraim's fall the first time resulted in punishment, exile and wandering, only to be regathered in a new homeland. Prophecy repeats itself (as does 'history') and after Ephraim's empire days, the passage in Isaiah foretold of their decline before all the punishments. Likewise, this will occur again, but the good news is that if God could restore them before, He will again! This does not mean we are giving Ephraim a license to sin, and we wish they turned back to the Lord as that would make them stronger again so the decline would not be so rapid, but either way, the ultimate goal God has for Ephraim is good.
And one last thing--- we want to remind the people of Ephraim that for those of them that are in Christ, they also have the heavenly promises as well. Like Christ, they will overcome; they will be sanctified and glorified. They will rule and reign with Christ here on this Earth over the Kingdom of Israel, and indeed, the whole world. For people to live in a heavenly Kingdom here on Earth is glorious enough. But for the chosen in Christ to rule over them and enjoy the Headship and blessings of this Kingdom is even better things to look forward to!