Ezra: the Return Home

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah, the LORD moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the LORD, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. And in any locality where survivors may now be living, the people are to provide them with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.’” (Ezra 1:1-4 NIV)

There's something profoundly moving about the concept of returning home. Whether it's a physical journey back to a place we once knew or a spiritual pilgrimage back to God, the path home often requires courage, humility, and divine intervention.

The book of Ezra tells one of history's most remarkable comeback stories. After seventy years of exile in Babylon, the people of Judah were given an unprecedented opportunity to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple that had been destroyed. Their journey offers us four powerful lessons about what it means to truly come home.

God Will Make a Way

The first lesson is perhaps the most encouraging: when we need to return home, God will make a way.

Consider the circumstances facing the Jewish exiles. They were captives in a foreign land, hundreds of miles from Jerusalem. The temple lay in ruins. Their homeland was desolate. By every human measure, their situation seemed hopeless. Yet God intervened from the Upper Story where He orchestrates events beyond our understanding.

The most powerful man in the world at that time was Cyrus, king of Persia. He was a pagan ruler with no allegiance to the God of Israel. Yet somehow, God turned his heart toward Judah. Not only did Cyrus allow the exiles to return home, but he actually ordered and financed the rebuilding of the temple. This wasn't just unexpected—it was miraculous.

Perhaps you've lived some portion of your life as a spiritual prodigal, far from home and far from God. Maybe you've made choices that have taken you down paths you never intended to walk. The distance between where you are and where you need to be might seem insurmountable.

Here's the truth: there is a way back. God specializes in opening doors that seem permanently closed. He can turn hearts, shift circumstances, and create opportunities where none existed before. The same God who moved the heart of a pagan king can move whatever obstacles stand between you and your spiritual home.

Things Need to Be Different

The second lesson is more challenging: when you return home, things cannot remain the same.

When the exiles' feet first touched Jerusalem's soil, they didn't immediately resume their old patterns. They made a significant change—they chose not to reinstate a human king. God wanted to be their King. Previously, they had demanded a human monarch, settling for less than God's highest will. Now, they were learning that the only true King worthy of David's throne would be the Messiah himself.

Their first act upon arriving home was building an altar and worshiping God. They put Him first. This wasn't only symbolic; it was foundational to their new life.

The same principle applies to anyone returning home spiritually. Recovery requires new habits. Sobriety demands new environments. Spiritual renewal necessitates new priorities. You might need to change your playmates and your playground. The people, places, and patterns that led you away from home cannot be part of your journey back.

When we return to God, He won't accept second place. This means getting to church consistently, opening His Word regularly, bringing our decisions and requests to Him in prayer, and saying yes to Him without hesitation or compromise. Half-hearted devotion won't sustain the journey home.

Stay Alert to the Enemy's Schemes

The third lesson is sobering: there will always be opposition to your return.

The returning exiles quickly discovered they had enemies who wanted to defeat the temple's rebuilding. These adversaries employed multiple tactics. First, they tried infiltration, offering to help build the temple. When that failed, they resorted to bribery, intimidation, and false reports to the king.

Zerubbabel, one of the leaders, recognized these schemes and refused to let the enemies infiltrate their work. But eventually, the opposition succeeded in getting the king to halt construction. The exiles then made a critical mistake—they turned their attention to building their own homes instead of God's house. They switched their priorities from God's work to their own welfare.

Here's an uncomfortable truth: there will always be someone who doesn't want you to recover, get better, or succeed. They might be obvious enemies or subtle saboteurs. They might use direct confrontation or passive undermining. You need to be aware of them and their schemes.

More importantly, you need to guard against the internal shift that happened to the exiles. When opposition comes, it's tempting to redirect our energy toward our own comfort and security. But putting ourselves first and God second never works. When the exiles made this shift, the spigot of blessing turned off. The momentum stopped. They became stuck.

Remain Open to Correction

The fourth lesson is perhaps the most practical: we must remain open to correction.

After ten years of stalled progress, God sent two prophets—Haggai and Zechariah—to confront the people and get them back on track. Haggai's words were direct and challenging:

"Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes." (Haggai 1:4-6 NIV)

The same God who intervened to make a way home also intervened to frustrate them, stop them in their tracks, and redirect their attention. This is how much He loves us—He won't let us settle for less than His best.

Most of us aren't naturally open to correction. We're not particularly teachable. We don't like being confronted. When loved ones try to address issues in our lives, we become defensive. But our response to confrontation reveals our spiritual maturity.

When confronted, take ten deep breaths to calm your emotions. Consider the source—if it comes from someone who loves you, listen carefully. Take the core of their criticism to prayer and ask God to reveal the kernel of truth He wants you to consider. Use confrontation as an opportunity for growth.

Coming Home

When Haggai and Zechariah confronted the exiles, something beautiful happened—they listened. The work on the temple resumed after ten years and was eventually completed. God was glorified.

This story foreshadows an even greater return found in the New Testament—the parable of the prodigal son. When that wayward child finally came to his senses and journeyed home, his father ran to meet him, embraced him, and celebrated his return.

This is the heart of our Heavenly Father. When we return home, we are welcomed and forgiven. The door is always open. The light is always on. He's always watching for us on the horizon.

If you need to come home today, know this: God will make a way. The journey may require changes. Opposition will come. Correction might be necessary. But home is waiting, and it's worth every step of the journey back.