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During the 1980s, the Israeli government brought hundreds of Ethiopian Jews into their country from Sudan. In one rescue, Israeli planes secretly flew in more than 14,000 Ethiopians to escape death. Though many of them are facing hard times in their new home, some Bible students believe this is an example of God returning scattered Jews from exile. The Bible teaches that God promised their ancestors that the land would be theirs. Yet God also warned them that if they didn’t obey the covenant, He would scatter them. Prophets warned them repeatedly that exile was near, but they still refused to repent and obey. Then Assyria—in 722 B.C.—and Babylon—in 606 and 586 B.C.—conquered them. They stayed in exile 70 years until Cyrus let them go home. But again, in 70 A.D., Romans destroyed their temple, sending them into exile. Then in 1948, some came home to set up a modern state. God once said through Jeremiah [Chapter 31], “Listen to this message from the LORD, you nations of the world; The LORD, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock. For the Lord has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them.” So in God’s own time, He will fulfill His promises to that small nation. But until then, God calls them and us to work for justice and righteousness among all people and individuals.
