The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Ezra 8:22-23,
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"I [Ezra} was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, 'The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.' So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer."
As Ezra prepared to leave the Ahava Canal outside Babylon to join the other returnees in Jerusalem, those who had already returned to the homeland, he made this observation. While he made an accounting of the returnees, the gold and silver they were taking with them, and other considerations, Ezra noted he could not in good conscience ask the king for a military escort for protection on the journey.
Since Ezra, a man who was unashamed of his God, had told the king that God's hand rested on those who look to him but opposed those who forsake him, how could he then ask the king for the protection of a military escort? If God was going to watch over them, what need would there be for protection?
Ezra put his faith where his mouth was. In keeping consistent with what he had shared with the king about God, (and considering his tremendous responsibility for the safety and welfare for all who traveled with him - hundreds of people) he decided against asking for the escort and instead placed his welfare, and the welfare of those with him, into the hands of God. He was not disappointed.
Ezra, through his faith, ordered his life according to what he knew about God. What a wonderful example of acting on faith by a man of faith!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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