June 4, 2024

Thousands of exiles in Babylon from Judah went back to dwell in their cities, even though after seventy years of being vacant, the homes were probably in shambles. Nevertheless, they were compelled to return to their own land. While exiled, they increased their wealth and number, so more went back home than were initially taken seventy years earlier. I have so many questions about their return. How did they know which cities belonged to their families or which homes to inhabit? Maybe it didn’t matter. I expect that most of their parents who were brought into captivity had passed away or were too feeble to make the trip home. They took a lot of stuff with them, including animals. It couldn’t have been an easy trip. Even though they faced many trials along the way, they were willing to contribute freely to rebuilding the temple. They needed to use their newfound freedom to worship God. They went to great lengths to honor Him. 

Though no one realizes it, we, the United States, are not a free people. We have always been told we are free as a way to control us; all the while, our elected officials bring down heavy regulation and the immense burden of taxation. We pay taxes on what we earn and then again on what we spend. It’s become a vicious circle. Can you build what you want on your land? Absolutely not! Can you drive your car without a license? Absolutely not! Despite our lack of absolute freedom, we can still worship God, but that could end at any time. Remember, genuine freedom comes from God and is spiritual, a renewing of our minds. If we don’t endeavor to undo the damage the enemy has caused by confusing our minds, we will never indeed be free. It’s more of a state of mind than a physical existence. Pray for God to open your mind to the truth. Nothing feels better than having your mind set free.

And some of the chief of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which is at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place: Ezra 2:68