Context No. 4110 of 4322 · Nehemiah

Nehemiah 7:6-10: in context

6These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city, 7who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: 8The children of Parosh: two thousand one hundred seventy-two. 9The children of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy-two. 10The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.

This passage begins a register of the exiles who returned from Babylon to Jerusalem, those who went up out of the captivity and came back, each to his own town, to rebuild a ruined homeland. Behind the list of names and numbers lies a significant choice.

By this time, many of the exiles had settled comfortably in Babylon; they had homes, livelihoods, a life. To return to Judah meant leaving that settled comfort for a hard road: a devastated land, ruined walls, opposition, and years of labor to rebuild. The ones named here are those who chose the harder path, who answered the call to go back and rebuild rather than staying where it was easier. There is honor in their choice worth noticing. It would have been easier to remain in Babylon; returning was costly and difficult. But these were the people who cared enough about God's city and God's purposes to leave comfort behind and take up the hard work of restoration. God recorded their names.

Am I willing, like the returning exiles, to leave settled comfort behind and take up the hard work of God's calling, choosing the harder road of restoration and service over the easier, more comfortable life?

Sources

Nehemiah 7:6: "These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity... and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city."
Nehemiah 7:7: "Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai..."
Ezra 1:5: "All those whose spirit God had stirred to go up to build the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem."