Ezra 2

“These now are the people of the province who came from those captive exiles King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had deported to Babylon. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.” Ezra 2:1-2 (HCSB)

Be honest! Did you really read every word from chapter 2? I bet you were tempted to skip it and go on to chapter 3, as was I. Though Ezra 2 is a difficult chapter to read, it contains some valuable spiritual lessons.  

The primary spiritual benefit we derive from Ezra 2 has been summed up well by H.A. Ironside:

“Most of the names are for us only names, but God has not forgotten one of the persons once called by these names on earth. He will reward each according to his work. Nothing of good or ill shall be overlooked by Him, who looks not on the outward appearance but on the heart. How little did any of these devoted Jews of Ezra’s day think that God would preserve a registry of their names and families for future generations to read and thus to learn how highly He values all that is done from the devotion of the heart to Himself and for the glory of His name!”

This genealogical section proves that the returning exiles were legitimate descendants of the Jews who occupied Israel before their deportation to Persia. More importantly, it demonstrates that God cares about and is intimately aware of the goings-on of His children. Do these people seem insignificant to you? Well, they are very significant to the Lord, and that should be comforting to us, especially when we feel alone, forsaken and insignificant in this World.

Furthermore, the gift of the land of Canaan to the Israelites and their preservation as a nation were tied in with God’s plan to send His “Son,” Jesus, the Messiah, Savior of the World. We should be thankful that God remembered these people, for in remembering them, we have faith that He also remembers us!

There are a few names worth mentioning, mainly because the persons named may be confused with other prominent Biblical persons with the same name. These people are Joshua, Nehemiah, and Mordechai. They are NOT the “Joshua” who led Israel into Canaan after Moses died, the “Nehemiah” who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem (he came later), or the “Mordecai” who was Esther’s uncle.

We will encounter more of these lists of names as we go further into Ezra’s book. It will be helpful to keep Ironside’s comments in the back of our minds, knowing full well that if the Lord is slow in returning. Our names may be added to a similar list to encourage future generations. And, of course, ALL believers’ names are written on the most important list: The Lamb’s Book of Life.