Ezra 8: 1-14
March 17, 2021
Genealogy of Those Who Returned with Ezra
These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered, 150 men. Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men. Of the sons of Zattu,[a] Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men. Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men. Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men. Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 men. Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men. Of the sons of Bani, Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men. Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him 28 men. Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men. Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men. Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai, and Zaccur, and with them 70 men.
As I was reading chapter seven the number of men that left with Ezra seemed to me not all that big. I was wrong, 1,236 men left with Ezra if my math is correct. It would seem that many of them were very young when taken from Israel into captivity and some may have been born in Babylonia. So why would they pull up stakes and leave for Jerusalem, could it be for the same reason the king allowed them to go because it was God putting that desire to go home.
In this world, Jesus tells us we will have many troubles, but to take heart He has overcome the world. In fact, Jesus overcame death, sin, and the grave, but many who go by the title of Christian allowed the fear of death to take control of their lives during the China virus. I asked one of my brothers why he was not returning to worship with us, and his reply was “I got my needs met watching the services.” I ask him a man I respect and love this question, but who takes your place, who is the hand and feet of Jesus Christ to those in the body that need encouragement? He told me, “I need to give thought to that.” But the answer is clear when you leave your place in this army of Christ, no one else can take the place of calling God has given you, the line has a hole, only you can fill. I could have asked what about the Scriptures commanding us to assemble together, but I’m not his Holy Spirit, but I am praying he and many of you will put your trust in the One that has overcome the World.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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