Ezra 8:!

Ezra 8:1 says, These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.  We now have a list of the chief fathers of the people of Judah who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon.  Anytime we as followers of Christ stray away from Him, we need to willing return to Him as soon as we can.  Unlike the people of Judah did for many years, we in America have nothing preventing us from doing so publicly.  The next several verses simply list the various people who did return.  

Verse two adds, Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.  Matthew Henry points out that the first three seemed to have gone alone without anyone accompanying them.  He says maybe they were going to go and see how things were and then send for others.  We will always come to Jesus Christ alone, but we should then reach out to others and invite them to come also.  

Verse three continues, Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.  The rest of the sons of different men brought others with them, and as sons of God through our faith in Jesus Christ, we need to attempt to bring others with us.  

Verse four states, Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.  

Verse five adds, Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.  

Verse six continues, Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.  

Verse seven says, And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males.  

Verse eight adds, And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males.  

Verse nine continues, Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males.  

Verse ten states, And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males. 

Verse eleven adds, And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. 

Verse twelve adds, And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.  

Verse thirteen continues, And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names are these, Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them threescore males.  

Verse fourteen says, Of the sons also of Bigvai; Uthai, and Zabbud, and with them seventy males.  We see that there were different numbers from different families, just as there are different numbers from different families today that accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, and it doesn’t matter how big or how small the family is physically.  

Verse fifteen adds, And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.  Ezra gathered all the people together and at the river that ran into Ahava, and they camped there for three days.  He also looked at the people and the priests, and he saw that here were no Levites, the tribe of priests.   We are called to be a priesthood of believers, and when God’s people gather, we need to be with them, individually and hopefully as families as well.  Of course, to be a part of the priesthood of believers, we must first accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, and if you haven’t, why not do so today?  We would love to welcome you to the family.