Have we ever looked for our name in the list of participants at an event, but couldn't find it? Maybe we felt confused, even disappointed. Something was wrong, did we forget to register, or was there an administrative error? That feeling is certainly not pleasant, especially if the list is related to something important. Nehemiah 7:61-65 tells of a group of people who wanted to be recognized as priests, but their names were not found on the genealogical list. As a result, they were considered unclean and removed from priestly duties. They could not enjoy the privileges of being priests until there was a decision from God through the Urim and Thummim.

According to hereditary provisions, people who were not recorded in the genealogy could not carry out priestly duties. However, the decision regarding their status was not based on human opinion, but awaited the results of the answer from the Urim and Thummim, a means used to seek God’s will. Nehemiah was very careful about this, because the office of priest, in the life of the Jewish people, was a very important office to maintain the life of faith of the Israelites. But on the other hand, he also remembered their large number and their contribution in the form of property and energy that had been poured out during the construction process. More than that, these people gave their hearts and their entire being in the process through the roles they played.

Bible friends, as we know, not all of the people in exile were willing to return to Jerusalem. But for many who returned, this was a personal and intimate journey of faith. God knows who truly wants to return to Him with a devoted heart, not just because of obligation or to be seen by others. In the end, God looks at the heart. These people are accepted as His servants. So in all the activities we do, we should give our hearts and our entire being for the glory of His name. Something that is not done from a sincere heart will certainly be seen, and will actually become a burden for those of us who do it.