Ezra: Depending on the Gracious Hand of God

When my wife and I were building our house (with dedicated space for a children's ministry), we expected the construction to happen in two phases. We didn’t have enough money, without touching our retirement savings, to complete it all at once. But delaying would only increase material costs between phases.

What concerned us more, however, was what family and friends might think. Would they ask, “Can’t your God provide?” Would we be communicating that our God was too small to carry us over the finish line?

Ezra, a priest and teacher of God’s Law, faced a similar question. He was tasked with returning to Jerusalem to teach God’s Word to the people. Although the temple had been rebuilt nearly sixty years earlier, spiritual renewal had not followed.

The journey carried risks: bandits along the 900 mile (1448 km) route and neighboring peoples opposed to the Jews' return. Under such circumstances, requesting protection would have been understandable. But Ezra felt ashamed to ask because he had already testified to the king about God’s power to protect those who depend on him.

Doubts easily crept into Ezra’s mind—as they do ours. We know the truth, yet like Peter, we take our eyes off Jesus in the storm and begin to sink.

Did Ezra swallow his pride and ask the king for an escort?

The passage doesn’t say he did. Instead, Ezra called the people to fast and pray for God’s protection and guidance.

Once assured of God's care, they set out on their journey. Four months later, they arrived safely with the gold and supplies needed to accomplish their mission.

Apprehension before a great task is understandable. Our response is what matters. Like Ezra, we can redirect our eyes to God and ask for his strength and protection. Proverbs 3:5,6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding; as we submit our ways to him, he will make our paths straight.

In our case, God showed us that he had already provided the resources—we simply needed to use them, and trust that he would continue to provide. At the end of what we had expected to be the first phase, the house was completed.

What task are you facing?

Ask God for what only he can do—and see what he will do.

Thank you for a moment of your time,

David Harlen

Post Script

It's out: Behold, All Things Are Become New (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). Will Tyler remain chained by the abuse his father inflicted—or find the freedom of forgiveness?