There are all sorts of twists and turns in the redemptive history of God and mankind. Genesis chapters 1 & 2 records and describes the majestic work of God in creating everything in the heavens and the earth, including mankind into whom He breathed a soul: the immaterial and incorporeal essence of a living being. Everything was deemed as qualitatively ‘good‘, and then in the case of the creation of mankind, it was stepped up to ‘very good’. Unfortunately, chapter 3 brought rebellion, death and destruction as mankind foolishly launched themselves into independence and isolation from their infinite and personal Creator. However, starting in Genesis 3:21, and continuing throughout the entirely of the Old and New Testaments, we find the unfolding story and saga of God providing His grace for the redemption for a prodigal human race.
One particular season of God’s plan is referred to as the 70 year Babylonian exile. Israel was tragically split in two by a bloody civil war in 930 BC. The 10 northern tribes, referred to as Israel, were defeated and dispersed by Assyrians in 722 BC. The two southern tribes were referred to as Judah. Eventually they too were overtaken by the Babylonians and largely exiled to their capital city. After the 70 years of exile, God moved the Persian king, Cyrus, to allow a repatriation and the resulting return of the Jews to their homeland, the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the establishment of a viable center of worship and community.
The process of ‘return’ and ‘rebuild’ is in large part recorded in the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah. These two books were originally joined under the one title of Ezra. It is a beautiful and challenging story of men and women whom God uses to step up and step out to accomplish His purposes in rebuilding the temple, the people and the walls of the city. The community of Jews had been decimated. The temple was in shambles. The wall around the city was obliterated. Hope was at an all time low… BUT God had a plan. He raised up people to rebuild and invest. They faced huge challenges and opposition. They needed God wisdom and His presence. As a result, the job got largely done.
We face a time similar to the Jews exile and process of rebuilding. We have a lot to learn from the two in one books of Ezra-Nehemiah. After Easter is completed, we will begin a 12 week series looking at the details and the key players in what God did then so we might get a vision for what He wants to do now.
There is an optional study guide, Ezra-Nehemiah by Kathleen B. Nielson, that you can purchase to go along with this series. It’ll help you dive a bit deeper and take what we’re learning and truly apply it. You can find the study guide (Ezra-Nehemiah by Kathleen B. Nielson) at Crossway, Christianbook.com or Amazon.
