Encouragement for Courageous Women in Christ
No. 26 of Returning Home (Renewed) The descendants of Abraham were tainting their bloodline by marrying Gentiles, in direct rebellion with God’s law to them. Their own leaders, including the Levites, were practicing this disobedience. When Ezra learned of the crime the children of Israel…
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No. 25 of Returning Home (Renewed) Ezra was a great student of Moses’ law. He was a priest, and he was a scribe. He kept the records, and he kept God’s word in his heart. As a faithful follower, God gave him many responsibilities. Perhaps…
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No. 24 of Returning Home (Second Return) One identifying characteristic of Bible narrative is the succinctness of the accounts. Looking at the compiled Old and New Testament in my lap, it’s easy to think, There’s nothing succinct about this book! It is a heavy volume,…
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No. 23 of Returning Home (Second Return) Ezra and the people journeying to Jerusalem carry with them the king of Persia’s treasures, earmarked for the temple. Ezra must conduct his people and the king’s riches in the safest and most expedient way. He chooses the…
Read moreThe story of David and Goliath begins with a giant problem. It wasn’t the 9ft Philistine; it was bigger than that. The Philistines were encamped in Israel’s land and had lived there for some time. During Saul’s reign they attempted to swallow up Israel–to defeat,…
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No. 22 of Returning Home (Second Return) Ezra accepted his work for God with courage and gratitude, but he did not have an easy time of it. Ezra records the names and number of the returning people of God in this second expedition (read chapter…
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No. 21 of Returning Home (Second Return) Artaxerxes I is revealed in Ezra as a king who is both for and against the work in Jerusalem. His letter given to Ezra describes what his intentions are in sending the second group of Hebrews home. This…
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No. 20 of Returning Home (Second Return) Ezra enters Jerusalem in 458 BCE. The temple has been built, and the Persian empire is ruled by Artaxerxes I. Known as the long-handed king because his right hand was longer than the left, Artaxerxes was the third…
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No. 20 of Returning Home (Reignited) Moses, the first of many historians of the Old Testament (Numbers 33:2), recorded the Passover in Egypt that occurred during his lifetime. God established the Passover memorial at Mount Sinai in the second year after the children of Israel…
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No. 19 of Returning Home (Reignited) Haggai, in support of the temple’s rebuilding, gave the people of Judah comfort by prophesying of the house of the Lord to come. For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will…
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