“Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where they originally lived.”
Ezra 2:1 NLT
Though Ezra 2 is seemingly just a simple list of those returning from exile, it underscores a simple fact. These men were willing to uproot their established lives in their country and follow God in faith back to their promised land. They were not native to Jerusalem. Though they were second class citizens in exile, it was all they knew. They were part of ancient style immigration system into a wealthy empire. Several of their people had made a major impact upon the kingdom and culture. Yet, they discovered that God had placed a weight upon their hearts and they heeded this call. They became pioneers into a homeland that was foreign to them. These were men who led their people and their families out of dark times. We would do well to heed their example and tenacity as we make our own pilgrims progress out of this life into the next. We have to ask ourselves if we are ready to uproot the only tangible truths we know, to return to the true Eden we have yet to know? We all should be.
JOSH McGARY. COM 