Stages or Waves in the Movements 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 9:4b,

"I [Ezra] sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice."

Just following his arrival to Jerusalem, Ezra received news that the earlier returnees from Babylon had begun to intermarry with the surrounding peoples with their "detestable practices", verses 1-2. Upon hearing this Ezra abased himself by tearing his tunic and cloak, and pulled hair from his head and beard, and sat there until the evening sacrifice, verse 3.

We read in first person that Ezra fell on his knees and spread out his hands to the Lord and prayed a very heartfelt prayer of confession in behalf of the nation. Here is a very significant purpose for the arrival of Ezra to the homeland. He will be instrumental in turning the nation from the errors that caused it to be conquered by Assyria and Babylon in the first place.

I find it fascinating that the Lord was now using Jewish resources available from the captivity in Babylon to provide much needed construction and correction now that the Jews began to return to their homeland. We are provided the accounts of three returns as recorded in Ezra-Nehemiah associated with Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah.

With these three returns, I get the feeling of three "waves" or movements of God to address the rebuilding of the temple, Ezra and his reforms, and the rebuilding of walls and gates. What I learn from this is that it appears to me that at times the Lord will do things in stages (as in this example of reestablishing his people in Jerusalem), while taking much needed time for things to "gel" in a way that leads to a next step.

I wonder if the Lord is working that way today? How might we recognize that?

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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