Jews Return Through Persecution
- Michael E.B. Maher
- Apr 11
- 6 min read
Jeremiah 16:12-16 And you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, each one follows the dictates of his own evil heart, so that no one listens to Me. (13) Therefore I will cast you out of this land into a land that you do not know, neither you nor your fathers; and there you shall serve other gods day and night, where I will not show you favour.' (14) "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "that it shall no more be said, 'The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,' (15) but, 'The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.' For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers. (16) "Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the Lord, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
The above-quoted passage is a record of Jeremiah’s prophecy, delivered around 609 BC[1]. This passage is another example of God’s many prophecies concerning the return of the exiled nation of Israel to their land of inheritance. It is important to note that this prophecy is not addressed solely to Judah but to the entire nation of Israel. The Lord states that He will not only bring the children of Israel from the north (Babylon) but also from all the lands where He has scattered them. In other words, the Lord is speaking of repatriating all of Israel’s exiles from among the nations of the earth.
Regarding Israel's return from exile, two important points emerge from this passage:
Israel's Reluctance to Return: The passage highlights that truth, as the Lord states that in bringing the Jews back, He would first send many fishermen to "fish" them, and afterward, He would send hunters to "hunt" them. This imagery reflects a reluctant people being compelled to return to their land of inheritance. Historical records attest that while not all Jews are reluctant to return, this sentiment does prevail among many.
The Lord’s Thoroughness in Ensuring Israel's Return: The Lord states that He will "hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks." This emphasizes that no stone will be left unturned—God will ensure that all of Israel’s exiles are eventually brought back.
As an aside, it is clear that this prophecy is directed toward the nation of Israel and not the Israel of God (the Church); for the Lord speaks of gathering the children of Israel gradually over time, whereas the gathering (rapture) of the Israel of God will occur as a single, sudden event.
Jeremiah 30:3 "For behold, the days are coming,' says the Lord, 'that I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,' says the Lord.’ And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.'”
The passage above is another example of the prophecies concerning the return of Israel’s exiles, delivered by the prophet Jeremiah around 588 BC[2]. In this passage, the Lord declares that He will bring back from captivity His people, Israel and Judah, and cause them to return to the land He gave to their ancestors, which they will possess once again.
Some have mistakenly thought this prophecy referred to Judah’s exiles returning from their Babylonian captivity. However, that is not the case, as Jeremiah addressed this prophecy to both Israel and Judah. In other words, the Lord was speaking to the entire nation of Israel, not just to Judah. This prophecy refers to Israel's return to the Promised Land at the end of the current age.
Ezekiel 20:32-44 What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, 'We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.' (33) "As I live," says the Lord God, "surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. (34) I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. (35) And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. (36) Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you," says the Lord God. (37) "I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; (38) I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter (abide in) the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord. (39) "As for you, O house of Israel," thus says the Lord God: "Go, serve every one of you his idols--and hereafter--if you will not obey Me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. (40) For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel," says the Lord God, "there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the first fruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things. (41) I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. (42) Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. (43) And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. (44) Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel," says the Lord God.' "
The above passage is a record of Ezekiel’s prophecy delivered around 591 BC[3]. This is another example of God’s many prophecies concerning the return of the exiled nation of Israel to the land of their inheritance. In this passage, the Lord clearly shows Israel’s reluctance to return, as they prefer to be like the Gentile nations among whom they live. However, the Lord also demonstrates that His purpose for the nation of Israel will prevail. In other words, God will ensure that all of Israel’s exiles eventually return to their Promised Land.
The Lord further explains that He will make the Jews pass under the rod as He brings them into the land of Israel. In biblical times, shepherds used to make their sheep pass under their rods to count them and ensure none were missing. Similarly, the Lord will make certain that all Jews are returned to Israel. He declares that He will even bring rebellious Jews out of the nations, though their stay will be short-lived, as He will not allow them to abide in the land of Israel.
This passage also highlights the method God will use to ensure the return of the Jewish Diaspora: He will do so with a mighty hand, an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. In other words, the Lord will use persecution to compel the Jews to return to their homeland. Once the Jews have returned, they will have an encounter with the Lord. He states that He will bring them into the wilderness and plead His case with them face to face. This encounter will lead the nation of Israel to repentance, as they will remember their sinful ways and loathe themselves because of the evil they committed.
After Israel repents, the Lord will accept them and their offerings once again, being hallowed in them before the Gentiles. Finally, the Lord reveals that, although Israel deserves none of this due to their wickedness, He will do it all for His name’s sake.
Michael E.B. Maher
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