In the book of Ezra, Ezra said, “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. Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush. 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. Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males. Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males. Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males. And of the sons of Elam; Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him seventy males. And of the sons of Shephatiah; Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him fourscore males. Of the sons of Joab; Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him two hundred and eighteen males. And of the sons of Shelomith; the son of Josiphiah, and with him an hundred and threescore males”, and in chapter eight and verse twelve of Ezra, Ezra shared about, “the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan” where we read,
And of the sons of Azgad; Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.
The verse reads, “And of the sons of Azgad;” Ezra began with the words, “of the sons” which means “and pertaining to the male offspring, progeny and family” “of Azgad” or “belonging to Azgad whose name means Gad is mighty”. Ezra included the male offspring belonging to “Azgad” who were among the “chief men” who returned to “Jerusalem” with him.
The verse goes on to say, “Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him an hundred and ten males.” Ezra continued with the word, “Johanan” which means “Jehovah has graced” “the son of Hakkatan” or “the male offspring, progeny and family belonging to Hakkatan whose name means the small”, “and with him an hundred and ten males” which means “and alongside and accompanying “Johanan” were one hundred and ten male human beings”. Ezra added “Johanan”and one hundred and ten other males who accompanied him as he went back to “Jerusalem”.
When we meditate Ezra's words in this verse, we see how he continued his list of “chief men” who went back to “Jerusalem” with him. “The sons of Azgad” and “Johanan” were among them, and “Johanan” had one hundred and ten “males” who came with him. God was assembling the people who would serve Him, and each of them had a role of importance in which they would participate. In like manner, God has a role for us when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind. As we surrender our lives to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and use us according to His Divine purpose and will in His Kingdom.
Next time Ezra shares about, “the last sons of Adonikam”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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