Prophecy, Coincidence or Weird Anthropology

The prophet Hosea who lived in the 8th century BCE and whose prophecies are featured in the Biblical book that bears his name, prophesied the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel. He also predicted that the ten northern tribes of Israel would experience terrible suffering in exile, which they did. They became the so called “lost tribes of Israel”. He prophesied that they shall be known as “Lo Ami” i.e., Hebrew for “not my people”. Meaning, Hosea basically said that ten of the twelve tribes of Israel will lose their identity to the point that they will seem like they are “not my people” i.e., they will seem like non-Israelites. Nonetheless, he says that their numbers will grow and that the day will arrive when they will re-establish their Israelite identity and re-unite with the tribe of Judah i.e., the Jews, to usher in the messianic age – a new dawn for all humanity. These are Hosea’s words:

“…the number of the people of Israel will be like ocean sand, which can neither be measured nor counted. And the time will come when instead of it being said, ‘You are not my people,’ it will be said, ‘You are children of the living God.’ And the people of Judah and the people of Israel will be united as one” (Hosea 1:10-11).

Recently, there has been a lot of emphasis on the resurgence of anti-Semitism masquerading as anti-Zionism, good old fashioned Jew hatred masquerading as anti-Israel sentiments. But very few have noticed the millions of people – I repeat, millions of people – who are coming out of the woodwork to declare that they are Israelites. Some of them are simply happy to reconnect with Israel and the Jewish people, others are following the Biblical commandments for “Noahides” i.e., the sons of Noah, still others are converting to Judaism. This spontaneous Israelite/Jewish combustion is happening across the world from Ghana to Alabama and now to Papua New Guinea (click here to read more about this).

Coincidence? Some scholars are dismissing these peoples’ claims as “offbeat anthropology”. Really? Why would millions of people invent a false Israelite history for themselves? Others see this as part of the messianic process – prophecy.