Wealth, or the non-lack of it for the exiled Israelis

Surprising. That less than 43,000 people returning from exile would possess such numbers in wealth - more than 7,000 slaves and more than 8,000 heads of domestic animals (horses, mules, camels and donkeys).

Surprising because we don't expect them to have taken all this with them when they went in to exile. Think about it - conquering king, subduing the Israelis, then asks them to bring all their wealth with them into their new land. Not happening - I don't see it.

The other alternative is, that they made this wealth during their time in exile. Which is pretty stupendous, if you think about it - alien land, they're not having much to begin with, but yet, when they leave, they leave with so much.

One way or the other, it is safe to assume, that the Israelis were never ever poor. Exile or no exile. So, can we draw a conclusion that God's people are never poor? I'm not sure. I think we'd be completely missing the whole point of the Good Book if we focus only on the wealth that these people had, and leave out the fact that the same God who punishes his children, also redeems them, and brings them back home - with plenty of material wealth... to have fun, enjoy and live life to the fullest. (Oh hey! Doesn't that last bit sound familiar?!)

Every Human Being

Imagine this scene. Indira Gandhi (India's first - and only, so far - lady Prime Minister) conquers Pakistan in the 1970s. In the 2010s, Pakistanis have been brought to all parts of India, to work for us. To live amongst us. Basically, in exile from their own lands, which now lie desolate. And sometime in the 2010s, our current Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, goes ahead and declares that all the Pakistanis who want to worship Allah can return to Pakistan, and help rebuild what has been broken down. AND, he also decrees that Indians everywhere should help the Pakistanis who are returning to Pakistan and give them whatever 'stuff' we want to - food, clothing, articles for the journey, and so on and so forth.

You can stop imagining now. The first chapter of Ezra, in the Bible, paints such a picture. Exiled Jews were allowed to return to Jerusalem, AND their local resident neighbours were asked to help the Jews with material goods for the return from exile. It's unbelievable. Fanatic Christians and believers may nod their heads in approval and call this 'the work of God', but what if this hadn't happened and they were tortured in exile? Would that be also the work of God?

I see a different thought threading this together. Many Christians (or believers) look at non-Christians (or non-believers) as 'heathens', close to how they view Satan himself. The truth is, every human being on this planet is made in the image of God - whether we believe in Him or not, and every human being has the capacity to love, be compassionate, and be awesome. Every single one of us.

Even the rag-tag beggars on the streets. Or the dictators who rule from iron thrones. Or the colleague who tries to undermine our work. Or the jerk that left us holding pieces of a broken heart.

At the end of the day, every human being is a cracked pot. Some more cracked than others, some more used by the Master Gardener than others. Let's remember that as we struggle through our difficult, daily lives.

Jewishness level: Terrorism

Nehemiah is the one who was cup-bearer to an alien king, while in exile from the land of Israel. He sought, and was granted, permission to go back to Israel to help the straggling, scattered few who were returning to Jerusalem - in rebuilding the wall. Till this point - Chapter 13 - he seems to be a fantastic Jewish hero. He's beaten the odds, prayed to His God, and raised up the walls around Jerusalem - all signs of an Israeli hero. So, it comes as a shock to see him beating, tearing out hair and basically forcing people into marriage - something that we frown upon very nastily today.

We can blame it on the culture of the day, but consider this. Nehemiah was doing what he thought was right, as ordered by his religious law and his God. He was hurting other people for it. Take into consideration now, the fact that a few chapters earlier, he had ordered his Israeli people to rebuild the wall with a sword in one hand and the rebuilding tools in the other hand - since they were under threat by the infamous, non-Jewish Sanballat and Tobiah. To me, living in the 21st century, this sounds like a terrorist or a zealot. Someone who so keenly follows what he thinks his religious law says, to the detriment of others.

Jesus completely turns such thinking around, right? Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. God sees the inside, man sees the outside. And so on.

Basically, the point is this - the Bible is a fantastic book. But it is a fantastic book about Cracked Pots. Just like you and me. And God still uses such cracked pots to bring his purposes to fruition.