ARE YOU AMONG THE RETURNEES?

There are some chapters of the Bible that seem so uninteresting to a casual reader: genealogies, and such other long lists of names of peoples, places, and things. Have you ever read the second chapter of the book of Ezra? Seventy verses filled with names! I used to find reading it very boring until the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see the importance of that name-filled chapter. That was the long list of helpers who returned to Jerusalem, following the proclamation of King Cyrus, to rebuild the temple. There’s also a call from heaven to ‘return’ to seek the restoration of the house of God on earth. I hope you will answer, or have already answered the call. In this season when helpers are needed for the house of God, I pray that your name would not be missing from the list; and in the season when you need help, I pray also that your helpers shall not be few! I pray that the Lord would give a long list of active and committed helpers! As the merciful attract mercy, that is how helpers attract help!

Those who came out had put their personal agenda on hold. They all had just one agenda: building the house of the Lord. The heads of the father’s houses of Judah and Benjamin, the priests and the Levites, were at the lead.

“Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem. And all those who were around them encouraged them with articles of silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered.”

The second chapter of Ezra has 70 verses, which represents the people of Israel. Jacob entered Egypt with seventy souls. In the wilderness, Moses chose seventy elders to bear thge burden with him. The Sanhedrin is a council of seventy. At a time in the ministry of Jesus, He sent out seventy followers to go ahead of Him. The number 70 represents the leadership council (elders) of Israel.

In the days of the error of the Golden Calf, a call was made: “Who is on the Lord’s side?” In response, the tribe of Levi stepped forward. It is always important to know who you are running with. Who are the people committed to this work of restoring the house of God? It is important to know, or have the record of, those who have joined the move of God. A call is being made today for those who want to be part of God’s move to restore His house and its glory. As people came from virtually every family of the Jews in Babylon or Persia, I see that our God is stirring the hearts of people from every corner of the church and the earth; to pursue this divine mandate. I hope you are among the returnees. Give me a shout (like, comment, share) if your heart agrees with mine. Let me know what you think about this.

ARE YOU AMONG THE RETURNEES?