Today’s passage: Ezra 2
Helpful thoughts:
- We know that God moved in the hearts of His people to return them to the Promised Land. Now we get to read who those people are. (High-five for finishing that!)
- Many in the genealogy are given by town as the people would settled into their ancestral towns once they returned.
- Zerubbabel is listed in the line of Christ in Matthew 1:12-13. He was the heir to the throne, though he would never rule as king (Jeremiah 22:28-30).
- Jeshua/Joshua was in the High Priestly line.
- How amazing that the Lord allowed these men to lead these Israelites back to the Promised Land!
- The Urim and Thummim were used by the High Priest to determine God’s will under the Old Covenant (Exodus 28:30, Numbers 27:21). Those who could not prove their Israelite ancestry had to wait until the High Priest (Jeshua) could ask God if they were truly a part of the nation.
Questions to consider:
- In what ways is this return a cause for celebration? In what ways does it remain a sad reminder of all they had lost? Is Judah called a kingdom or something else in verse 1? Who remained their earthly king?
- How does the number in this voyage compare to their first journey to the Promised Land from Egypt? (See verse 64 along with Numbers 26:51 and note, these lists only include the men so there were more who came if you count the women and children.)
- Why would it be wrong for them to find or lose confidence because of their numbers? Who had brought them “home”? Who was their protection? Who’s heart had God moved to bring about His will (1:1)? How can the presence of God encourage us to move forward in obedience today? (Matthew 28:18-20)