Tower of Confusion

Have you ever entered a contest or sweepstakes? Did you read the fine print and notice your chances of winning were 1 in 1,000 or 1 in 500,000 or another minute chance like that? Maybe you thought to yourself, “Does anyone ever win these contests?” or “I’d like proof. I’d like to see the name of the person who actually wins this.”

When we look at Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7, we may think, “This is kind of boring. Why is this included in the Bible? I can’t even pronounce some of these names.” Both passages contain a list of names of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem after captivity. Their return was prophesied—it was a promise from God. While the Israelites were in exile, living as captives to the Babylonians, God used the prophet Jeremiah to promise His people He would someday free them from their captors. Jeremiah 29:10-11 reads, “This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.’ â€

You can view the list of names in Ezra and Nehemiah as proof or evidence—a reporting of the individual people who experienced God’s love and power through the fulfillment of His promise. And you can be reassured and reminded that the God we worship and trust is a God who keeps His promises—like His promise to bring His people back from the exile of sin and death through Jesus. If you know Jesus, your chance of experiencing His love and power in your life is 100%. • Kendy Young

• Which of God’s promises gives you hope and encouragement as you face the future?

• How have you witnessed God’s power and love in your life?

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Genesis 11:1-9