Read Ezra 7:1–10

In the classic film The Princess Bride, the swashbuckling Inigo Montoya tries to restart his life after the failed kidnapping of Princess Buttercup. “When the job went wrong, you went back to the beginning,” he reminded his leader. Israel went wrong and they ended up in exile. In the book of Ezra, the people could return! But after 70 years, what kind of nation would they build? Ezra, a teacher who returned with the nation, showed them the way. They needed to go back to basics.

Ezra understood that if they were going to rebuild their nation in a way that would honor God, they needed to know and obey the Law of God. For the nation of Israel, the beginning started with the Law of Moses. Centuries before, God had made a covenant with Israel. That covenant included many things they needed to obey. Now given a second chance, Ezra made it his aim to set the nation on the right footing. He was a man who “devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the LORD, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (v. 10).

Although Israel had endured seventy years of exile, Ezra understood that God had not changed. Therefore, those who wanted to be in a right relationship with Him needed to return to His word.

Centuries have come and gone since Jesus Christ walked this earth and proclaimed the good news of salvation. If people today want to build, or rebuild, their lives in a way that pleases God, they need to return to the simple message that Jesus proclaimed from the beginning: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2). There is no need to search for a new message, go back to the beginning.

Go Deeper

What basics did you understand when you first became a Christian? What might you need to return to today? Extended Reading: 

Ezra 5-7

Pray with Us

Father, show us what lessons we need to learn from the book of Ezra. May we follow Ezra’s example of coming back to You and Your Word. May we learn from this godly leader how to serve You with diligence!

Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence.Ezra 7:23

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Read 2 Chronicles 36:15–23

If you own stock in a company, you are keenly aware of one thing: If the company goes out of business, your dividends disappear. You can’t expect to be paid when the company that is supposed to pay you no longer exists!

God made promises of forgiveness to Israel, but at the end of 1 and 2 Kings the nation was in exile. Had God gone out of business? What happened to the promises He made? The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles retell the story of God’s people in light of their return from exile. More than a repetition of 1 and 2 Kings, Chronicles allows us to re-read this part of their story with the knowledge that God brought them back, just as He promised. These books show that God planned to save enough Israelites who would return and reconstitute the nation decades after they went to Babylon. In His wisdom, He coordinated the collapse of the Babylonian empire (Jer. 25:11–12), and orchestrated the rise of Cyrus, king of Persia (Isa. 44:28). It was God’s plan all along, and He was faithful to complete it.

But more important than this change in their physical circumstances was a change in their spiritual condition. God used the exile to lead Israel back to Himself for forgiveness. Their restoration to the land would coincide with their restoration to faithfulness, and it started with the rebuilding of the House of the Lord (2 Chron. 36:23). The Temple was the focus of Israelite worship. It was the place where God promised to meet His people, receive their sacrifices, and forgive their sins! In raising up Cyrus to rebuild the Temple, God began with what mattered most: returning His people to Himself. Solomon’s prayer (2 Chron. 7:14) anticipated that Israel would always find their God in business, ready to forgive them when they turned to Him.

Go Deeper

Are you having a difficult time accepting God’s forgiveness? Turn to promises He made to His people and remind yourself that He has a plan. In Christ He has forgiven you! Extended Reading: 

2 Chronicles 36

Pray with Us

King Jesus, we pray that Your wonderful promises of forgiveness and restoration will spur us to seek a closer communion with You. Our hearts are full of gratitude. Thank You for Your salvation!

I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin.2 Chronicles 7:14

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Read 1 Kings 14:7–16

When experiments go wrong, it can be an opportunity for learning. Thomas Edison famously quipped, “I have not failed. I’ve found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” But when a failed experiment doesn’t provoke change, there is no progress. We must learn from our mistakes, or we will repeat them.

Israel had received the king they desired. They followed the example of the nations around them, raising up leaders that valued power, wealth, and influence. But God desired a different kind of kingship, one that valued obedience, righteousness, and humility.

Time and time again, the nation followed leaders who chose a worldly path and led the nation away from God. Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, set the standard for wickedness. He was given his throne by God, yet when he came to power he quickly gave in to ungodly fear and set up idols to worship, and the nation followed him (v. 9)!

The kings of Israel, like the judges, were supposed to lead the nation closer to the Lord. Instead, Jeroboam led them astray. Judgment came swiftly, “You have aroused my anger and turned your back on me,” God said. He declared that the nation would go into exile for what Jeroboam did (v. 15).

One would expect the nation to learn from this disastrous experiment and turn to God in repentance and righteousness, but they did not. The rest of the books of 1 and 2 Kings detail the repeated failures of Israel leaders and the failure of the people to reject wicked leadership. What would come of the promise to Abraham to bless the nation? Could there ever be a king who could lead the nation like David did? The failures of kingship created an expectation for the one King who would light the world.

Go Deeper

Why do we often repeat the same sinful behaviors over and over? What can we learn from today’s reading that might help us learn and improve? Extended Reading: 

1 Kings 14

Pray with Us

As we read about the failed leadership of Israel’s kings in 1 and 2 Kings, we long even more for the true King, the Savior, the Light of the world. Come, Lord Jesus!

You have done more evil than all who lived before you.1 Kings 14:9

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Read Judges 2:10–23

Experts in financial investing understand that investor memory is not to be relied upon. Investors tend to downplay or even forget downturns in the market and remember very clearly the upswings with exciting returns. We tend not to learn from the pain. The book of Judges can feel a lot like those financial markets. The nation swung from times of obedience and victory to times of disobedience and suffering. Their situation reflected the forgetfulness of people and their need for a strong, godly leader. They didn’t learn from the pain; someone would have to guide them.

When Joshua died, no national leader emerged to shepherd the nation, and they lost spiritual momentum. They failed to drive the Canaanites out and instead became like them! God disciplined Israel by empowering their enemies. The discipline had its intended effect; the people turned to God and begged for help. God raised up judges, who led them to victory and a time of righteousness (v. 16). But when the judge died, like a forgetful investor, they forgot the bad times and turned from the Lord again and again.

Turning from the Lord meant following other gods, serving and even worshiping them (v. 19). As expected, their disobedience provoked the Lord to anger, and He declared that He would not drive out the Canaanites before them. Instead, they would remain as a test for Israel (v. 22). It was a test they would often fail. But during this difficult time, there were some Israelites who dedicated themselves to obeying the Lord and following His commands. An example is given in the book of Ruth. We are reminded that following God takes sacrificial commitment, and the blessings God showered upon the faithful are worth the sacrifice!

Go Deeper

Have you minimized the effects of sin in your life? Have you forgotten what life apart from God looks like? Take time to remind yourself of your need to remain close to Him. Extended Reading: 

Judges 1-2

Pray with Us

Merciful Father, we receive Your somber warning today about the deadly power of sin in our lives. May we stay close to You and to Your faithful love, we pray.

The LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hands of these raiders.Judges 2:16

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Read Joshua 23:1–16

Think about the last time you completed a significant project. Do you remember the feeling? Do you remember the moments when you almost quit? Do you remember the little victories along the way that kept you going? Finally, you arrived at the finish line!

When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the land God had promised them, they were at the finish line of a journey that had taken 40 years and two generations. But because the land was inhabited, Israel would have to drive out the people who lived there. God was punishing the Canaanites and using Israel to do it. He was making sure the land would be a safe place where His people could thrive.

While the Canaanite coalition had been defeated, many of them remained in the land and represented a significant temptation for Israel. So, with his final words Joshua encouraged the people to remember that God fulfilled everything He promised them (23:14). They should remain loyal to Him with all their hearts!

He warned them against making alliances with the Canaanites who remained (v. 12). These alliances were often sealed with marriages, which meant Israelite families would be merged with Canaanite families. Often this meant that the people of God would worship the gods of the Canaanites. The result of this behavior would be that Israel would not enjoy the land (v. 13).

As the curtain closed on the book of Joshua, the nation stood at a crossroad. Their next steps were critical. Would they follow through on the victories that had brought them control of the land by remaining faithful to God, or would they give in to the temptation and ally themselves with the Canaanites?

Go Deeper

Why was the entry into the promised land such a significant crossroads for Israel? What is the danger for us when we experience victory? How can we avoid letting our guard down at those moments?

Extended Reading

Joshua 21:43

Joshua 23:16

Pray with Us

Almighty God, thank You for the encouragement from Joshua, which resonates in our hearts centuries later: “Not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed” (Joshua 23:14).

Not one of all the LORD’S good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.Joshua 21:45

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Read Deuteronomy 8:1–20

When a child heads off to college it is easy for parents to get anxious. They wonder, is my child ready? Will they succeed? Will the trauma of the teenage years wear off so our relationship can be normal again? Wise parents take time to prepare their child for the big change. As the Book of Deuteronomy opens, Israel is poised to enter the land God had promised them. But the journey had not been easy. What should have been a brief journey took 40 years because of Israel’s disobedience at Kadesh Barnea (see Num. 14:33). Despite this, God had brought them through. As they awaited the command to cross over, God took time to prepare them by reaffirming His covenant with them.

These people were the offspring of the men and women who had met with God at Mt. Sinai (Ex. 20:22). They were too young to understand the special relationship God had with the nation. As they prepared to inherit this land, they needed to be reminded of who they were, who God is, and what He expected of them.

First and foremost, they needed to do carefully what God commanded (8:1). Doing so would enable them to enjoy the land He had promised. To help them obey, God instructed them to remember how He loved them by caring for them in the wilderness (v. 2). Those days were indeed difficult, but God used those trials to train them for their own good (v. 3). He had also provided for them miraculously (v. 4). Even the times of discipline were for their development (v. 5). He concludes by describing the benefits of obedience. They would enjoy a land filled with abundance (v. 9). But they would need to be on guard, for abundance could breed a different kind of unbelief (v. 10)!

Go Deeper

Has abundance or good times ever decreased your dependence on God? Why do you think that happens? How can we remember God during bad times and good?

Pray with Us

We praise You, Lord, for Your love for us, in good times and in times of trials and hardships. Your faithful love endures forever! It accompanied the Israelites in Deuteronomy, and it guides our steps today.

Observe the commands of the LORD your God, walking in obedience to him.Deuteronomy 8:6

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Read Numbers 11:1–35

Each year I get the privilege of welcoming freshman students to the Moody Bible Institute. In those first weeks they want to know what they are required to do for class. They also want to know the consequences if they fail to do what they are supposed to do. As we turn to the book of Numbers, we learn that disobedience to God carries consequences. While we have just learned that God provided a way for forgiveness, we also know that God is willing to hold the line even if it means punishing His people. This is a significant theme in the Bible.

After meeting God at Mt. Sinai, the nation made its way to the land God had promised. Along the way He tested them to see if they would obey Him. Often their living circumstances were difficult. They were in a desert without the food and comforts Egypt had provided. Often, they complained bitterly (v. 4). Ironically, they forgot they were slaves in Egypt!

On their desert journey, God had provided miraculous food in the form of manna (v. 9). Still, they complained. We see that, more than just a sign of displeasure, their complaining signified a deep spiritual problem. They refused to trust that God would bring them to the promised land. They doubted He would care for them. They even suspected He meant ill for them. All of these were deeply displeasing to God. He made promises to them based on His character. Their behavior implied He was unreliable. They were committing the sin of unbelief (Heb. 3:19).

As tragic as these narratives are, they taught Israel and teach Bible readers today an important lesson: God judges unbelief. We learn that unbelief, like other sins, has consequences. God has made promises to you. Trust Him!

Go Deeper

Why did the Israelites complain? How did their complaints signify unbelief? Have you struggled to believe God’s promises? Recommit yourself to believing His promises today.

Pray with Us

As we move to the book of Numbers, we receive a somber warning about the sin of unbelief. Almighty God, may we never forget that Your mercy and forgiveness go together with judgment. Teach us to trust You completely.

The anger of the LORD burned against the people.Numbers 11:33

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Read Leviticus 5:14–19

At most places of employment there are rewards for success: public recognition, a raise, maybe a promotion. And when a job is done poorly, the penalties are equally clear. But what happens when someone repents, apologizes, and commits to do better? Will their employer forgive them or write them off as a liability? How many times can they be forgiven before their prospects for advancement are diminished?

At Mt. Sinai, God reminded Israel that He knew they would disobey. They had already done so several times, and He knew they would do so again. So, He created a system that would allow them to confess their sin, receive forgiveness, and find their way back to fellowship with Him. Leviticus describes a series of sacrifices that Israelites could offer, which would help them express their desire to be close to God.

The Guilt Offering was about covering sin (v. 15). This sacrifice was an act of worship, a way for an Israelite to humbly declare his love for God by acknowledging he had done wrong. The act of confession was not about informing God; He already knew the Israelite had sinned. Rather, confession required sacrifice, in this case a ram without defect (v. 15). This was a physical act that provided the Israelites an opportunity to acknowledge that sins needed to be covered and to receive the comfort of knowing God had forgiven them. It cost something.

Sin is not without cost; it mars relationships. And because God loved Israel, He offered forgiveness so they could enjoy Him. Centuries later the Psalmist would express his delight when he said, “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered” (Ps. 32:1). Later still, God would offer the final sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, and make a way for our sins to be covered!

Go Deeper

Have you experienced God’s forgiveness? Describe a time when you experienced His love and restoration. What was the cost of your sin?

Pray with Us

The book of Leviticus shows us from ages past what a merciful God You are. From the system of sacrifices to the ultimate sacrifice of Your Son, You are the God who forgives. We rejoice in Your salvation!

In this way the priest will make atonement for them for any of these sins they have committed, and they will be forgiven.Leviticus 5:13

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