Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 11:1-3
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Joseph still lives (as evidenced by faith in the word of God), and it is an absolute vexation to those who desire to avoid this fact.
You have hit on something here. People are absolutely vexed over this possibility.....that the Northern Tribes never returned from their exile and quite possibly are now located exactly where God wants them to be.
[Isaiah 65:15] And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.
They will no longer be known as Israel. And........
[Isaiah 62:2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
[Genesis 21:12] And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
"Isaac's Sons"....Saxons?????
[Romans 11:25] For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
They will not know who they are.
[Hosea 1:10] Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
They will be believers in the Messiah but unaware of their heritage.....and a multitudinous people.
[Jeremiah 15:7] And I will fan them with a fan in the gates of the land; I will bereave them of children, I will destroy my people since they return not from their ways.
On the other hand....Judah will not be as populous.
[Genesis 35:11] And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins;
Israel was the name given to the Sons of Joseph:[Genesis 48:5]
[Jeremiah 24:9] And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
Judah.....would not receive the same blessings.
[Jeremiah 31:33] But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Israel to be under a New Covenant. Judah to remain under the Old Covenant.
[Jeremiah 33:17] For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.
The house of Judah has not had a King....or a throne since Zedekiah [II Kings 25:7] who died in Babylon.
When people learn these things they should shout "Praise God" to the roof tops. But.....some indeed get vexed!