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Then the exiles who had returned from captivity sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel: twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven male lambs and, as a sin offering, twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the Lord (Ezra 8:35).

Ezra 8 records a second group of exiles returning from Babylon to Jerusalem. On arrival, they have what appears to be an impromptu worship service, Old Testament Israelite style, that is. But, upon closer inspection it is anything but spontaneous.

This group is led by Ezra who has spent much of his life studying the law of God. Ezra knows Moses well, really well. This journey from Babylon is an echo, or a shadow, of the journey from Egypt which Israel took under Moses\u2019 leadership. Much of what Ezra does follows the pattern Moses laid down.

The most significant is the gathering of the Levities. This tribe stood for the Lord while Israel prostrated themselves to the golden calf (Exodus 32). Thus, they were set apart to special work for the Lord. In his final prayer, Moses offered these words regarding Levi: \u201che watched over your word and guarded your covenant. He teaches your precepts to Jacob and your law to Israel. He offers incense before you and whole burnt offerings on your altar\u201d (Deuteronomy 33:9-10). Knowing this, Ezra will not leave Babylon without an escort of Levites.

Ezra doesn\u2019t have the ark or tabernacle for the Levites to care for and carry. But he assigns the temple money and articles to the care of the priests and Levites, appointing twelve of each to this duty, echoing the original 12 tribes. He ensures proper stewardship of God\u2019s holy belongings by scrupulously measuring and counting the items at both beginning and end of the journey.

The gathering for sacrifices is also a result of this careful attention to the law of Moses and echoes Israel\u2019s original entrance to the land. This careful attention to the number and types of sacrifices indicates the Israelites identify as God\u2019s covenant people and desire to be faithful to God.

Behind all the actions of Ezra and his people is the hand of God. The story is told in such a way that we see God providing for them. He brings them capable Levites (18). He gives them a safe journey (23, 31). All the donated items are accounted for in Jerusalem (34). The king\u2019s orders result in assistance from the government officials.

As God redeemed Israel from Egypt, he is now redeeming them from Babylon. As God, through Moses, called Israel to be faithful, he now, through Ezra, calls for faithfulness. These sacrifices indicated Israel\u2019s intention to leave behind the ways of Egypt and Babylon and embrace the ways of God.

Both of these redemption stories point forward to the greater redemption story in Jesus Christ. Jesus is greater than both Moses and Ezra. He is the greatest and the final Levite. Not only does he teach us God\u2019s way, He is God\u2019s way. And he gives us His Spirit to lead us in the way of faithfulness.

He does not lead us in sacrifice, He is our sacrifice. He gave his own life that we may live. \u201cThere is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all\u201d (1 Timothy 2:5,6).

Under Moses and Ezra, Israel needed to make the journey to the promised land, with lethal hazards along the way. Jesus makes it for us. By faith in him, we are already citizens of God\u2019s kingdom. By faith in him, when we die, we will enter into the glory of God\u2019s presence.

The sacraments remind us of this. The Lord\u2019s Supper points to the death of Christ on our behalf. It symbolizes our reception of the life Christ\u2019s sacrifice imparts. Similarly, baptism reflects the death and resurrection of Christ. Baptism symbolizes that in Christ we die to our own selfish ways and the values of the present world and by Christ\u2019s power we are resurrected to life in the Spirit. Both remind us that God pours His Spirit into us to leave behind the ways of this world and to embrace the ways of his kingdom.

Thanks be to God.