Hopeful Home

“And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not identify their father’s house or their genealogy, whether they were of Israel:...and of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, and the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name. These sought their listing among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore they were excluded from the priesthood as defiled.” ‭‭Ezra‬ ‭2:59, 61-62‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/ezr.2.59,61-62.nkjv

There is an adage that says “No matter how sweet a vacation, the journey path back home cannot be mistaken”. The application of the same adage to apparently endless sojourning in a strange land is somewhat controversial. The children of Israel had spent ‘uncountable’ years in captivity, had different taste of life, and had accepted their fate as life served them in Babylon. And when it was time to return home, certain of them could trace their general residential area (GRA); but they could not remember their genealogy. Life’s experiences are sometimes hard and depressing, and the pursuit of better life on earth can be a strong distraction; but sincerely, methink the memory of genealogy is stronger than GRA. When we are constantly conscious that we are created and located by divine providence, we are not like to lose that fact the Creator expects a good return back to Him someday. Unfortunately, the pursuit of relevance on earth often promotes our memory of GRA above genealogy. Little wonder the scriptures queried believers that “If only in this world we had hope, we are of all men most miserable”. Heaven is the only hope of the righteous; and the happy home from all hopeless pursuits here below.