Seeking the Gracious Hand of God - Ruminating in the Word of God

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 7:9-10,

"...for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."

Here is an observation made about Ezra. The Persian king, Artaxerxes, had released Ezra, a Jewish priest, to return to his homeland. He was given the direction by the king to be sure he taught the Scriptures to the people.

In this observation, we learn that due to a choice Ezra made for his life, the Lord responded in a way that is characterized as "the gracious hand of his God was on him." I am certain there were a number of ways the "gracious hand of God" being upon him was expressed. Certainly Ezra was a blessed man and was used mightily by the Lord.

The choice Ezra had made for his life was to give himself over to the Scriptures. He "devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord". The "Law of the Lord" was the Bible as developed up until that time. Our first five books of our Bibles would be included as well as other books that had been added to the sacred library by this time. Not only did he study the Scriptures, he observed them, he did them, he applied them to his life, he sought to conform himself to what the Lord asked through his Word.

Further, Ezra also devoted himself to teaching what he had studied and observed. He made himself useful to the plans of God and furthered his agenda.

If any of us had a notion to have the hand of the Lord on us and experience whatever blessings that might bring, we may learn from the old priest Ezra. He shows us the way.

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!

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