Ezra 2

In the nation of Israel, it was very important to know (and be able to show) where you came from. Who was your family? Your clan? Your tribe? After 70 years of captivity in Babylon, I’m surprised that those who returned to Jerusalem following the decree of Cyrus could even trace their family history. Yet, the vast majority of those who made the journey home were able to show that they were, indeed, descendants from the tribes of Israel.

Not everyone had such luck, however. There were a few whose family records had gone astray during their time in exile: "The following came up from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show that their families were descended from Israel: This group included the families of Delaiah, Tobiah, and Nekoda—a total of 652 people. And from among the priests: The descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (a man who had married a daughter of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by that name). These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. The governor ordered them not to eat any of the most sacred food until there was a priest ministering with the Urim and Thummim." (vs 59-63)

Now, if you remember from the beginning of Israelite history, the Urim and Thummim were some sort of objects that were used in connection with the High Priest’s breastplate in order to determine the will of God in a situation. In this case, once a priest was "ministering with the Urim and Thummim," those individuals who couldn’t show their family history would appear before the priest, and by the witness of the Urim and Thummim, it would be determined whether they were Israelites.

So, the Urim and Thummim would essentially be God’s way of testifying on behalf of these people. If God said that they were Israelites, they would be accepted into the family. That automatically made me think of what Paul said in the book of Romans about our inclusion in God’s family: "Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba,Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children." (Rom 8:14-16)

By tempting Adam and Eve to sin, Satan tried to put us on the outside of God’s family forever. And I’m sure that all of us, at times, have felt like outsiders. But what Paul and Ezra tell us is that God Himself calls us His children. He says we’re part of the family. He testifies on our behalf that we belong in the household with all the other children.

Photo © Unsplash/Xavier Mouton Photographie

From God’s perspective, there has never been a doubt about this. He has always called us His children. If there has been any question about whether we are part of the family, it has always come from our side, because the sad fact is that there are some who don’t want to be part of God’s family anymore. That won’t make God stop thinking of them as children, but neither will He force them to stay at home if that’s not where they want to be.

So, don’t ever worry about whether God will take you into His family. In His eyes, you are in the family. He calls you His child. And whenever someone else questions your place in the family, He will personally testify on your behalf that, yes!, you belong!