Today’s devotion comes from Ezra 2:1-42. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%202&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city. These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172; the sons of Shephatiah, 372; the sons of Arah, 775; the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812; the sons of Elam, 1,254; the sons of Zattu, 945; the sons of Zaccai, 760; the sons of Bani, 642;” Ezra 2:1-10.
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Exact numbers matter. Exact numbers show the care and control of the Sovereign Almighty LORD.
In today’s Scripture, we see the care and control of the Sovereign Almighty LORD over the “number of the men of the people of Israel” “who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city”.
“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.
Exact numbers also show the care and control of the Sovereign Almighty LORD over individual lives.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:28-31.
Thus, we understand that God controls the smallest details of life on earth so that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29), and God certainly is not giving up any control over what is most important, namely salvation.
God saves according to His purpose, according to His choice, not because of works nor even the will of man. “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.
God saves all those, and only those (the elect), whom He has chosen to save. In sharp contrast to the wise, mighty, and noble who proudly thought they deserved salvation by their will or by their works or by their position, God saves only those whom He has chosen as we see that the concluding Scripture pounds the table three times what is the basis of salvation: “God has chosen”.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 