Record Keeping

While it seems like a fairly boring and mundane task at the time, when you look over that book now it's so interesting to see what has happened.

Ezra 2:1-70

Reference:  v.64  The whole company numbered 42,360. (NIV Bible)

Explore:   When we started our new congregation, my mother encouraged me to create a notebook where I could record details about the weekly service as well as special events in the life of the church.  My parent's church began over 30 years ago and my mother has been keeping a record of attendance, preachers, baptisms and other special occasions.  While it seems like a fairly boring and mundane task at the time, when you look over that book now it's so interesting to see what has happened.  It's a really nice way to look back and celebrate how far God has brought a group of people.

Application:  When we get to a passage like Ezra 2 we tend to roll our eyes and skim through the names.  I've heard people say that the reason they don't read the Old Testament is because it's just lists and lists of names they don't understand.  Yes, there are a few places where there are some decent lists but it's hardly a good reason to shut off from all the wisdom and knowledge in the rest of the 802 pages!  To be honest, these names don't mean a great deal to me either, and I'm sure it would take a detailed historian to get some sort of significance out of their meaning.  And yet, it's a good record of people who were committed to make a huge change due to their commitment to being God's people.  It is all these people that picked up all their belongings and moved back to their town of origin.  They had a huge task ahead of them, to rebuild these towns, and yet they were committed to being a part of it.  When we read over their names, and when we read through the Old Testament, we read of important events that have taken place and we can celebrate how far God has brought a group of people.

Prayer:  Lord, You have called us to be Your disciples.  May we be willing to live a life so that we can look back and celebrate how far you have brought us.  Amen.

What is a significant event in your past that has helped to shape where you are today?

Ezra