02.07. God's sovereign control

God’s sovereign control As a result of the conquests by Assyria and Babylon, Israelite people were dispersed through many countries. Those of the former northern kingdom, Israel, were scattered widely and became largely absorbed into the peoples among whom they lived. Those of the former southern kingdom, Judah, were largely located in one region, Babylon, and retained a greater sense of national identity. When Persia gave permission for the captives to return home, most who returned were from Babylon. Being from the former kingdom of Judah, they were known as Judeans, a name that was later shortened to ‘Jew’. This name was freely applied to all who now lived back in the ancient homeland, without any reference to their tribe of origin. In time it was used of Israelites in general. In spite of Persia’s generosity in helping the captive Jews rebuild their homeland, many decided to remain in the foreign lands where they had grown up. Also, there were other migrations, some forced and some voluntary, with the result that Jews became scattered throughout the lands of West Asia and North Africa. When the first Christians proclaimed the gospel in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost, Jews from many countries were present. Among the regions represented were Mesopotamia, Parthia, Media and Elam.¹

Persia, by this time, had long since ceased to be a leading power. It had fallen to the Greek conqueror, Alexander the Great, in 331 BC. Kingdoms come and kingdoms go, all according to the sovereign will of God. God had raised up Cyrus for the purpose of overthrowing Babylon and releasing the captive Jews,³ but that was no guarantee
of unbroken divine favour, whether for the Jews or for Persia. God still controls the destinies of nations, which is both an encouragement to those who are afflicted and a warning to those who take God’s favour for granted.

1. Acts 2:9 2. Isaiah 44:28; Isaiah 45:1-5

‘Beyond the Euphrates’ – vast Persian province that encompassed Judea