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b'Have you ever entered a contest or sweepstakes? Did you read the fine print and notice your chances of winning were 1 in 1,000 or 1 in 500,000 or another minute chance like that? Maybe you thought to yourself, \\u201cDoes anyone ever win these contests?\\u201d or \\u201cI\\u2019d like proof. I\\u2019d like to see the name of the person who actually wins this.\\u201d\\nWhen we look at Ezra 2 and Nehemiah 7, we may think, \\u201cThis is kind of boring. Why is this included in the Bible? I can\\u2019t even pronounce some of these names.\\u201d Both passages contain a list of names of the exiles who returned to Jerusalem after captivity. Their return was prophesied\\u2014it was a promise from God. While the Israelites were in exile, living as captives to the Babylonians, God used the prophet Jeremiah to promise His people He would someday free them from their captors. Jeremiah 29:10-11 reads, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153This is what the Lord says: \\xe2\\u20ac\\u02dcWhen seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,\\u2019 declares the Lord, \\xe2\\u20ac\\u02dcplans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and future.\\u2019 \\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d\\nYou can view the list of names in Ezra and Nehemiah as proof or evidence\\u2014a reporting of the individual people who experienced God\\u2019s love and power through the fulfillment of His promise. And you can be reassured and reminded that the God we worship and trust is a God who keeps His promises\\u2014like His promise to bring His people back from the exile of sin and death through Jesus. If you know Jesus, your chance of experiencing His love and power in your life is 100%. \\u2022 Kendy Young\\n\\u2022 Which of God\\u2019s promises gives you hope and encouragement as you face the future? \\n\\u2022 How have you witnessed God\\u2019s power and love in your life? \\nKnow therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nGenesis 11:1-9'