Ezra 8:35
“The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to the LORD. Then they delivered the king’s edicts to the king’s satraps and the governors in the provinces beyond the Euphrates River, and they supported the people and the house of God.”
As far as I can tell these are the first sacrifices offered in 70 years. How exciting that would have been. We are witnessing something rare amongst conquered people. They are returning to their homeland decades after having been removed from their homeland. It would be more common for a people to disappear.
But God made a promise to Abraham, that is that he would be a great nation and that they would have a homeland. We know that the Messiah would come through His seed. That also is a reason that the people have to be preserved and to be brought back to their homeland.
God is a promise keeper and a restorer. Joel 2:25 says, “And I will restore to you the years that he has eaten—the swarming locust, the young locust, and the destroying locust, and the devouring locust—My great army that I have sent among you.” Israel was taken captive because they were disobedient to God. It was a lesson they were to learn. We are witnessing a homecoming, but also a restoration.
We also have lessons to learn. It might mean things being taken away. As we learn obedience and He restores things. Obedience to Christ is a wonderful thing. Our ways often get us into trouble. Sometimes it’s bondage to sin. We get weary and cry out to Him. He rescues us and keeps us safe. As we walk with Him He blesses us greatly.
Something I didn’t know about God is all that we get with Him. I saw His way as sacrifice. There is some of that, but it’s not an even trade. We are giving our petty cheap stuff for His riches. We get fulness from His. David said in Psalm 16:5, “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. And even more with, “Whom do I have in heaven but You? And with You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, (Psalm 73:25,26). We go from beggars to wealthy.
We learn to trust Him. He will ask us to do difficult things from time to time, but we know we get blessings. More than that we get Him. We learn that He is enough. He uses us to bring others to Him. They become His children, they learn to surrender to Him and trust Him and the cycle repeats itself.
Thank You, Lord. You have given us so much. We are children of the King. Thank You for all You do for us.