THE SECOND EXODUS— RETURN TO THE PROMISED LAND When you found out that we would be studying Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, did you cry out . . . “WHY?” We get it! Maybe you wondered . . . • Why should I be reading books I cannot even pronounce? • Aren’t they out of date, unrelatable, and somewhat irrelevant? • How am I going to understand anything since there’s such a huge cultural gap? • Why do I need a history lesson? Again, we get it, and we realize the apprehension you may have. That’s why we want to begin this study with encouragement. We want you to remember that the Bible is not a bunch of independent verses or stories. No! The Bible is more like a library. Each book has a crucial part in God’s epic, unfolding story. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 says, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. This means that the Old Testament is inspired by God, just like the New Testament. All the books of the Bible work together to show how the one true God will bring redemption and order out of sin and chaos. Understanding the Bible’s entire storyline will help us more accurately know who God is and how He works. If we neglect reading the whole counsel of God’s Word, we risk misinterpreting verses and forming inaccurate thoughts or theological views about God, His purposes, and His people. Ultimately, these gaps in our understand- ing of Scripture and who God is will have significant ramifications in our daily walk with the Lord. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 points out that all the books of the Bible are beneficial for your growth as a Christian, no matter what season of life you are in and no matter what you are going through. Thus, Scripture will teach, reprove, correct, and train you in righteousness so you are prepared for all that God has for you in this life. Ultimately, every book of the Bible points to Jesus as the one promised to come to deal with man’s sin, helping man get back to God. That’s why you want to become familiar with the storyline of the Old Testament—you will begin to see the gospel theme in almost every chapter and understand God’s remarkable, redemptive story leading up to Jesus!
Having explored some of the reasons for this study, we have provided the follow- ing brief overview of what happened before the return of the Jewish people to
The Second Exodus—Return to the Promised Land | 3
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