Ezra 8:6-10: a reflection

6Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan; and with him fifty males. 7Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah; and with him seventy males. 8Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael; and with him eighty males. 9Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel; and with him two hundred eighteen males. 10Of the sons of Shelomith, the son of Josiphiah; and with him one hundred sixty males.

As Ezra prepares to return to Jerusalem to take part in the restoration, the account lists those who chose to go up with him, family by family, name by name, with the number who came with each. These were people who left the security of where they were, in the land of exile where they had settled, to answer the call to return and take part in God's work of rebuilding. It would have been easier to stay where they were comfortable; but they chose to go up, to leave their settled lives and join in the work. The list records those willing to answer the call to return and rebuild, leaving comfort behind for the sake of God's work.

Notice who is recorded here: those willing to leave comfort and answer the call to God's work. Many had settled in the land of exile and could have stayed; returning to Jerusalem meant leaving the security and comfort of their settled lives for a hard and uncertain work of rebuilding. But these chose to go up, to answer the call, to take part in what God was doing. Their willingness is recorded, family by family; they left comfort behind for the sake of the work. It would have been easier to remain; but they answered the call, and their names are written among those who went up to take part in God's work. The willingness to leave comfort and join in the work is what the list preserves.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too may be called to leave comfort and answer God's call to take part in his work. God's work sometimes calls us out of the comfortable and settled, to leave the security we have arranged and take part in something harder and less certain, as these left the land of exile to return and rebuild. It is easier to stay comfortable; but there is a call to go up and join in the work. Do not always stay in the comfortable and settled when God calls you to take part in his work; be willing to leave comfort and answer the call, as these went up to rebuild. Be willing to leave the comfortable and settled to answer God's call to take part in his work, as these left the land of exile to go up and rebuild Jerusalem; for God's work sometimes calls us out of our comfort, and there is a place for the willingness to leave the security we have arranged and join in what God is doing.

Lord, as Ezra prepares to return to Jerusalem to take part in the restoration, the account lists those who chose to go up with him, family by family, name by name. These were people who left the security of where they were, in the land of exile where they had settled, to answer the call to return and take part in your work of rebuilding. It would have been easier to stay where they were comfortable; but they chose to go up. Show me who is recorded here: those willing to leave comfort and answer the call to your work. Many had settled in the land of exile and could have stayed; returning meant leaving the security and comfort of their settled lives for a hard and uncertain work. But these chose to go up, to answer the call, to take part in what you were doing. Their willingness is recorded, family by family; they left comfort behind for the sake of the work. Take that to my heart, for I too may be called to leave comfort and answer your call to take part in your work. Your work sometimes calls me out of the comfortable and settled, to leave the security I have arranged and take part in something harder and less certain, as these left the land of exile to return and rebuild. It is easier to stay comfortable; but there is a call to go up and join in the work. Keep me from always staying in the comfortable and settled when you call me to take part in your work; help me be willing to leave comfort and answer the call, Lord, as these went up to rebuild Jerusalem.