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Nehemiah 11

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Verses 1-9, “Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to dwell in Jerusalem, the holy city, and nine-tenths were  to  dwell in other cities. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. These are the heads of the province who dwelt in Jerusalem. (But in the cities of Judah everyone dwelt in his own possession in their cities—Israelites, priests, Levites, Nethinim, and descendants of Solomon’s servants.) Also in Jerusalem dwelt some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin. The children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the children of Perez; and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. All the sons of Perez who dwelt at Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men. And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah; and after him Gabbai and Sallai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.”

In order for Jerusalem to thrive as a city, it needed to be populated. The leaders set the example by deciding to live there themselves, then the rest of the Jews agreed to cast lots to determine the remainder of those that would live their as well. One in ten, or simply ten percent, of the Jews agreed to live in Jerusalem. It says that the people blessed all the men who willingly offered themselves, which gives us the impression that this was some sort of sacrifice for them to do so. I would imagine that they would have to leave everything behind to live in a new place. First of all, if you aren't willing to do so, you are not worthy of God's kingdom. And secondly, if you do leave it all behind, you will be blessed by God (now and later), which is far above any blessing from man.  Luke 18:28‭-‬30, “Then Peter said, 'See, we have left all and followed You.' So He said to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,  who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.' ” 

All together, 468 men along with their families were willing to lay their lives down for service to God. It makes you wonder if we would be willing to do the same. Sometimes God doesn't ask us to give up everything, but rather just one thing. It should not be a struggle to obey. God has already given us everything in His Son Jesus. Who are we to hold back on a fleshly desire or habit that we are unwilling to give up? Sometimes His Spirit convicts us of sins that need to go; but other times, it may not be sin, but rather a weight, that will keep us from running and finishing the race.  Hebrews 12:1‭-‬2, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

The Jews may have gotten comfortable living in Babylon and caught up with the wordly system and its ways. Therefore, those agreeing to leave their lives behind would need to prepare themselves in their mind and heart to forego the comforts (material possessions and relationships) the world had to offer in order to pursue God wholeheartedly. Furthermore, they would likely become the object of attacks from the enemies around them. We can relate on a spiritual level because it's not entirely unlike the choice that believers have to make today...which may be why we are warned to remember Lots wife. You will come to forks in the road where your faith with be tested...are you willing to sacrifice to follow Jesus?  Matthew 10:39, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”

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