A
register was taken from them that would go up to Jerusalem to rebuild the
temple of God. In it, it was found that there were some that could not prove
themselves Israelites (Ezra 2:59, 60). And there were others that could
not prove themselves priests (Ezra 2:61, 62).
The
families of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai could not prove that they were from
the priestly family. How was it so? The ancestor of the family of Barzillai had
married the daughter of Barzillai from Gilead and had taken his wife's family
name. As a result, the records of these three families could not be found;
their claim of belonging to the priesthood family could not be established. What
a pity!
The
question is why? Why did those families choose to take on the wives’ family
name instead of their own? I can think of three reasons:
1.
In Babylon there was no temple and hence nothing to do for the priests. Hence,
they didn’t care much about retaining the Hebrew genealogy.
2.
They preferred the name of the Gentiles. It is akin to Asians adopting English
name and be called by the English names. They think it is fashionable.
3.
They despised their family names. They were captives in a foreign land. They
didn’t want to be known because of their Hebrew names. They chose the Gentile
names to conceal their identity.
Throughout
their history the true Israelites were eager to maintain their genealogy; they
would carefully guard their national registers. The Chinese too has a tradition
of keeping the father’s family name. But those three Israelite families chose
to forego the family’s name and took on a heathen’s name. They didn’t count on
it that one day they would return to their homeland. Perhaps, they didn’t think
it could happen; but it did. The consequence was they were deemed polluted, could not serve as priests and enjoy the privileges attached to that office (Ezra 2:62).
Christians
are a spiritual priesthood (Isaiah 61:6; 1Peter 2:9). We are a “holy
priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices to God acceptable to God by Jesus
Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). And, for the sacrifice to be acceptable to God, it
must not be polluted.
Paul
says the Christian sacrifice must be living and holy: “I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). The sacrifices of the Old Testament were
slain and thereby, dead. The Christian sacrifice is to be living and active. It
has to be holy. How can it be holy? Paul continues: “And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” (Romans
12:2). A Christian whose mind has been transformed to the likeness of Christ is
holy; he is not one who is conformed to this world. Have you been transformed?
Those
three Israelite families had lost their identity as children of Israel. It
could not be taken for granted that they were priests when they could not
produce their proofs, but they were deemed polluted and put from the
priesthood. Likewise, as Christians, we need to prove our identity as children
of God. A Christian who is still conformed to this world has taken on the
identity with this world. How then can he prove his identity as a child of God
and gain entry into heaven to receive the eternal inheritance?
Each
of us should take care to hold on to our identity. This Christiana identity is
our birthright to gain entrance into heaven. Do not be like Esau who sold his
birthright and exchanged it for something inferior or those Israelite families
who despised it and chose to live like the heathens.
The
saddest words to be heard from the mouth of the Lord is “I never knew you”
(Matthew 7:23). Does the Lord know you? Can you prove your identity that you
are a child of God?
Jimmy Lau
Psa 119:97 Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day
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