One stick in God’s hand

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. (Ezekiel 37:19)

The stick of Joseph represents the elect of the Gentiles. The stick of Judah represents the elect of the Jews.

The stick of Joseph represents the elect of the Gentiles because of Ephraim, the second son of Joseph. When Jacob prophesied over Ephraim he stated:

. . . but truly his younger brother [Ephraim] shall be greater than he [Manasseh], and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. (Genesis 48:19)

The seed of Ephraim will become a multitude of nations, that is, Gentile nations; not just the one nation of Israel.

The remaining verses of the thirty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel remind us of the Lord’s statement, "There shall be one fold, and one shepherd":

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (John 10:16)

Compare:

And say unto them, 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. (Ezekiel 37:21,22)

And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. (Ezekiel 37:24)

Back to You are My People