Jehovah's Long-Suffering Not Lost

History shows, however, that God's long-suffering has a limit. In 740 B.C.E., he allowed the Assyrians to overthrow the ten-tribe kingdom of Israel and lead its inhabitants into exile. (2 Kings 17:5, 6) And at the end of the following century, he permitted the Babylonians to invade the two-tribe kingdom of Judah and destroy Jerusalem with its temple. - 2 Chronicles 36:16-19.

Even while executing his judgments against Israel and Judah, however, Jehovah did not forget to be long-suffering. By means of his prophet Jeremiah, Jehovah foretold a restoration of his chosen people. He said: "In accord with the fulfilling of seventy years at Babylon I shall turn my attention to you people, and I will establish toward you my good word in bringing you back to this place. And I will let myself be found by you...And I will gather your body of captives and collect you together out of all the nations and out of all the places to which I have dispersed you." -Jeremiah 29:10-14.

A remnant from among the exiled Jews did indeed return to Judah and revive the worship of Jehovah at the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. In the outworking of Jehovah's purposes, this remnant would become like "dew from Jehovah," which brings refreshment and prosperity. They would also be courageous and strong like "a lion among the beasts of a forest." (Micah 5:7, 8 ) This latter expression may have been fulfilled during the Maccabean period when the Jews under the family of the Maccabees expelled their enemies from the Promised Land and rededicated the temple, which had been defiled. Thus the land and the temple were preserved so that another faithful remnant would be able to welcome the Son of God when he appeared there as the Messiah. - Daniel 9:25; Luke 1:13-17, 67:-79; 3:15, 21, 22.

Even after the Jews had slain his Son, Jehovah continued to show them long-suffering for a period of three and a half more years, granting them the exclusive opportunity of being called to become a part of the spiritual seed of Abraham. (Daniel 9:27) Before and after the year 36C.E., some Jews accepted this call, and thus, as Paul later put it, "a remnant has turned up according to a choosing due to undeserved kindness." -Romans 11:5.

In 36C.E., The privilege of becoming a part of Abraham's spritual seed was extended for the first time to those who were neither Jews or proselytes. Any who responded also became recipients of Jehovah's undeserved kindness and long-suffering. (Galatians 3:26-29; Ephesians 2:4-7) Expressing deep appreciation for the wisdom and purpose behind Jehovah's merciful long-suffering, through which he produces the total number of those called to complete spiritual Israel, Paul exclaimed: "O the depth of God's riches and wisdom and knowledge! How unsearchable his judgments are and past tracing out his ways are!" - Romans 11:25, 26, 33; Galatians 6:15, 16.