Ezra 2: The Ultimate Protection

“Another group returned at this time from the towns of Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Kerub, Addan, and Immer. However, they could not prove that they or their families were descendants of Israel.” Ezra 2:59 (NLT)

I can’t even describe how familiar this feels. These people weren’t rejected — they were protected. If they weren’t Levites, they couldn’t serve in that role. Period. This is hard to recieve but oh so important to understand. Rejection just hurts...or what feels like rejection. I too have felt so sure I was meant to do something that the thought of not doing it ripped me to the core. Now I can see it from a different light.

The Levitical roles came with serious responsibility which ultimately would breed serious consequences. They carried a weight and a liability these people couldn’t take on. On another note, even in the world of dating… or maybe better said, lack of dating, the lack of suitors has pretty much been the same thing. Protection. I'll tell ya thought it has felt terrible. I’ve done a lot of work, I’ve healed, I’ve grown… and still, it’s been ten years with no real pursuit. That just doesn't feel good.

This reminded me: sometimes God holds back a role, a relationship, or even a responsibility not because I's about rejection, but because the timing isn’t right — or it was never our assignment in the first place. It actually made me laugh thinking about that silly trend, “I understood the assignment.” Because In reality? I didn’t. I thought I knew my assignment. Itt's bewildering.. I wonder if that's how they felt!? What a reminder that it’s simpler than I’ve made it: not everything withheld is a “no.” Sometimes it’s just protection.