Return

“Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.” ~ Ezra 2:1

Sin is a serious matter. Sin causes a rift between God and His people. Sin causes man to walk away from God, to rebel against the will of God, and to put self before God. The Babylonian captivity was a 70 year exile that the people of God experienced because of sin. Idolatry had so consumed the people of God that He had to act in a way that would clarify their vision and call them to repentance. When prophets, kings, and priests could not call the people of God to return to Him, God gave the people over to a foreign nation. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the people of God away from the Promised Land and into captivity.

Living outside of Judah was a devastating consequence for the sin of idolatry. The Babylonian captivity removed families from their homes. It destroyed businesses and communities. Access to the temple was gone. This meant that the people of God could not worship God in the temple. Sacrifice for sin could not be made. The effects of the Babylonian captivity were intended to show the people their continuing need for a relationship with God. It was a limited captivity that allowed Israel to develop a hunger for the covenant that God offered them.

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell the story of the return of God’s people from Babylon to Jerusalem and the surrounding country. It is the story of a people who hunger for a relationship with God. It highlights the importance of worship, family, and obedience. It is the story of children who return to a Father who loves them.