Our history, the history of mankind, has had it’s dark moments. There have been many examples of “Evil on Earth.” In our past, certain societies and leaders, have taken it upon themselves to “correct” the world (as they see fit). The ethnic cleansing of Saddam Hussein and Aloft Hitler remain the “worst of the worst.”

But, right here, in our part of the world, we saw the deportation of between 4000 and 6000 men, women, and children; as the British expelled the Acadiens.

As history tells us, the Acadians posed no real threat to the British, even though they tried numerous times to win over the Acadians; and asked that they swear allegiance to the British crown. But the Acadians simply wanted to remain neutral and live a quiet existence.

As a last resort, the British Governor, Charles Lawrence, along with the Nova Scotia Council expelled the troublesome people. The order, the Great Upheaval, also known as the Great Expulsion, The Deportation, the Acadian Expulsion, was signed on July 28, 1755; and by 1763, 10,000 Acadiens were effected by this banishment and displacement.

The decree said, in essence, “if you are not with us, we consider you, against us.”

The Acadians were exiled to various places down the Eastern Seaboard; as far south as South America. The most famous landing site, probably remains Louisiana; where the Acadians became known as Cajuns.

Some of these people were put on ships and sent back to Europe; virtually scattering them all over the globe.


In Old Testament times, the Assyrians introduced, and the Babylonians adopted, the practice of Forced Population Transfer. The custom, was to transfer, at least, the leading men belonging to each country, which they conquered – re-locating them in their own districts.

There, the displaced peoples would be removed, and far, from any familiar association and/or patriotic memories. If they had no associates, then they could not scheme against their captures. If they lost their sense of allegiance, then their loyalty would also be lost.

Deportation, banishment, expulsion, displacement, scattering, forced population transfer, ethnic cleansing, and exile was generally resorted to (carried out), as an extreme measure, when all other means of control failed. (x2)

These are all extreme examples, of people, facing extreme opposition. Some overcame these obstacles, some crumbled under weight of the impediment, while others, were not victorious; but did not give-in or give-up either.

The events told in Ezra, happened against the backdrop of Israel’s national disaster. King Nebuchadnezzar military had leveled God’s Temple in Jerusalem, and most of Judah had also been destroyed (587 BC).

Thousands had lost their lives, as a result of the battles that took place. Of those who were not killed, Nebuchadnezzar deported to Babylon. Some of Israel’s best and most talented leaders were dispersed, and forced to “work for the Babylonians.

For those who were exiled and those who were left behind, both experienced loneliness and bitterness. But the few that remained in the homeland, they faced a pitiful existence. And all of the Israelite’s, went through an extreme test of faith. Israel hoped that God would bring them home; someday.

For us, our faith is also tested. God punishes us because we do not follow his laws, but because of his love, he restores us to completeness, and reinstates our righteousness. And it is through His righteousness, that he corrects us, and it is through His righteousness, that he restores us. And it is through His righteousness, that He shows us mercy and grace, when all we have shown to Him, was contempt.

God does has faith, in our faith.

Israel may have been deported, banished, expelled, by God, but God also reinstated their position as His chosen and special people, He reestablish a connection with them, and He reintroduce them back into their homeland and back into His very graces.

Israel may have been displaced, scattered, exiled by God, but God also revived their trust, renewed their covenant, and rebuilt their faith. All because of the punishment that they deserved; all because of the mercy, they did not deserve.

The Israelites were much like us, or; we are much like the Israelites. Both of us; would follow God for a little while, and when things are going great, God is often forgotten. Then, when struggles and suffering occur, we would run back to God, seeking help and asking Him to remove our pain; and God would rescue us.

Then, we would go along as if nothing happened, and God is forgotten again; but this time we might totally ignore God’s law, and the covenant that was made between us. We, the Israelites and us, would have to be punished for our sins.

The punishment of today is a lot different, than the punishment of yesteryear. Today; guilt, remorse and heartache, all serve as punishment. Natural and logical consequences, serve as punishment. Loss of a job, a marriage, or a home, serve as punishment. And to the extreme, criminal charges, court action, and/or imprisonment, serve as punishment. Not often, is the though of death ever considered.

In the Israelites day, death as a punishment was common; and so was captivity and exile. In Old Testament times, Israel suffered through three (3) periods of foreign rule. The Assyrian Captivity, the Babylonian Captivity, and the Roman Captivity.

Finally, the sins of Israel’s people caught up with them, and they had to be punished. So, God allowed Assyria to defeat and disperse the people. They were led into captivity, swallowed up by this mighty and evil pagan empire. Sin always brings discipline and (sometimes) the consequences are irreversible.

God used the prophets to bring messages of warning to Israel, but the Nation had turned sour and rejected its original purpose – which was; to honor God, and to be a light to the world.

Our purpose in life, our purpose as Christians, our purpose as descendents of God’s chosen and special people…is the same - to honor God, and to be a light to the world.

And if you look around at the world we live in today, that purpose, is in great need.

In the face of the opposition, of the evil times of today, we must remain strong and trust that God will redeem us. Our God is a righteous god, who extends His mercy to His people.

It was God who ‘allowed’ or even ‘caused’ Israel to be taken over and exiled. It was through Israel’s constant sinning, that the Lord decided to punish them. He allowed, ‘just so-much’ and Israel would follow the Laws for a while, but then they would slip back into their old ways; falling short of the glory of God.

Finally, God had to teach Israel a lesson. He allowed them to be scattered and taken to a far-off land, a land unfamiliar to them, and they suffered great hardships; and ‘in all intent and purposes’ the Israel Nation was no more.

But, the story doesn’t end there. Jerusalem was destroyed and Israel was taken into exile in 586 BC, Babylon was overthrown in 539 BC by King Cyrus; and, finally, in 538 the Cyrus Decree was made. The banished and ostracized people were given permission to return home; and start to regenerate their lives, their nation, and their faith. Their first task, was to glorify the Lord, by rebuilding God’s Holy Temple – in Jerusalem.

God gave Israel another chance to be His special people. The Israelites did not sin any greater than the Assyrians or Babylonians; in most cases they were not as wicked or as evil as any of the pagan nations, but God held the Israelites is a higher expectation. God demanded more from them; He expected and demanded a Holy Nation – for they were the Chosen Ones, His special people.

Verse #1;
In the very first year of his reign over Babylon (after the conquest of the Assyrians of 538 BC), King Cyrus of Persia, made a surprising proclamation. God had moved the heart of the king, and the Cryus Decree, the Persian Proclamation, the Babylon Decree was enacted.

In that first year, God did (indeed) stirred the heart of Cyrus; and after what some would say 48-70 years in exile, over 40,000 Israelites came home. God had used Cyrus in an extra-ordinary way.

Often, a person does not necessarily grasp the full impact of what God has called them to do, or inspired them to say. Even the prophets sometimes could not full perceive, or understand, the messages they delivered; or the result or repercussions of those messages.
God used the Assyrians to send a message to Israel – clean up or act or else. Well, those warnings went unheeded, and finally Israel was taken into exile. After they struggled for nearly 70 years, and when God felt they were ready, He then used Cyrus to carry forward the divine plan of the restoration of His people.

Even when God punishes us for our sins, He always offers to us, a second chance to serve Him; and follow His commandments. For some, it might be that second chance, for others it might be a 3rd, 4th or 5th chance to redeem ourselves.

You must remember this, God will always give you another chance – because He loves you, and cares what happens to you.

For as often, as we blatantly disobey God, He offers redemption to those who honestly, and truly, want to change their lives; and live up to the name God gave us. The name He gave to the Israelites (long ago); the name that we inherited through Abraham, Isaac and Moses; and the name you were given, by means of adoption – when you first became a believer.

For we are called, you are called, the Children of God, a Chosen and Special People – a Holy Nation.

God only wants the best for us; He wants the best from us; for he offers, only the very best, to us. God does correct, and at times punishes us for our sins; as He did to the nation of Israel. He scattered them through out the Holy Land, because they disobeyed Him.

And, when their ‘time-out’ as over, through His mercy and His grace, He called them home, He brought them home, and He
re-united them, placed them on a firm foundation – back home.

So, “humble ourselves under the mighty power of God, and in His good time He will honor you. After you have suffered a little while, He will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.”

I tell you; rejoice that God offers second chances to serve Him. Take to heart, the story of the Exiled Israelites. For their hope was in the Lord; and He delivered them.

If you will only promise, to do your best, to remain faithful to His Word, God will deliver you– from the face of Opposition.

Which is His divine plan of the restoration of His people.