Expert: J.M.J. West - 10/17/2008

Question
Are there any other instances in history that God scattered His children? (Forcing them to use different tongues or not). Blessings, Verne

Answer
Verne,

Thanks for the question.  In the very first instance, Adam and Eve are removed from paradise and, in a sense, scattered amidst the earth; so too is Cain separated from his people.  Abram is removed from his people to settle in new land, in a sense scattered where the Lord desired to place him.

The entire history of the people of Israel is essentially the story of their wayward relationship with God.  They enter into a covenant with Him, then break the covenant, and they are scattered amongst the nations.  The two periods of captivity in the history of the Hebrew people make this very clear (the Assyrian and the Babylonian captivities).  The Jewish people found themselves strangers in a strange land on multiple occasions (consider also the Egyptian captivity in which the book of Exodus begins).  From a Christian perspective, since the destruction of the temple in 70AD, the Jews have persisted in a sense of being scattered amidst the world - persecuted at times but always protected from utter decimation too (think about it, there are no more Egyptians, Phoenicians, Babylonians, Assyrians, or even Nazis, though all of these groups have been strong and have persecuted these people!).

And of course, in the Christian era, we are warned that Wolves will sneak in and scatter the flock (referencing to the schisms and divisions which have plagued the Church since it was founded by Christ on Peter and the Apostles).

More over, these Christians are called to scatter themselves across all lands (like seed is scattered in a field) in order to preach the word.

Does that help?

See also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylonian_Captivity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_captivity

Pax Christi,

-J.M.J. West