Ezra 7:28
Having noted the blessings of God's provisions in Ezra's life in our lesson last week, we turn to ask, why did Ezra enjoy the blessing of God’s provision in his life? Is there anything we can glean from Ezra’s story that might ensure the hand of God in our own lives? I believe there is! Let me suggest some reasons why the hand of the Lord was upon Ezra. The first reason is that Ezra prepared himself. In a summary passage, we learn why God was with him - Ezra 7:9-10 “For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel.” God was with him “For (because) Ezra had prepared his heart...” “to seek the Law of the Lord” (to learn what God wanted him to do). “to do it” (to apply it to himself first). “to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (and then teach others). -- Ezra had first made himself “useful for the Master, prepared for every good work” – see 2 Ti 2:21.
Ezra had sought the Lord. He believed that God would be with those who seek Him - Ezra 8:22 “For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him."’ Thus he entreated God’s protection through fasting and prayer - Ezra 8:21-23 “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him." So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty.” -- Ezra believed that God rewarded those who diligently seek Him; such faith undoubtedly pleased God - He 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Ezra was willing to step out in faith. Trusting the Lord would protect them, they began their perilous journey - Ezra 8:31 “Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.” It was not easy, for there were enemies and potential for ambush along the way! -- But Ezra illustrated that he had a living, working faith! - Ja 2:17 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”, 26 “For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.”; Ga 5:6 “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love."
Ezra was willing to face difficult situations. Upon his arrival, Ezra was faced with a difficult situation - Ezra 9:1-2 “After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, "The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost."’ Many of the Israelites had intermarried with Gentile women. The rulers and leaders of Israel were the worst violators. He was moved to fasting and prayer - Ezra 9:3-15. Others joined him (“everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel”). He offered prayer confessing the sins of Israel. He accepted the responsibility that was his - Ezra 10:1-8. Encouraged by those willing to repent he went on to leading the people to a great restoration! -- It would have been so easy to rationalize away any need for the people to change; but Ezra did not let the emotionally charged issue deter him from doing God’s will!
The hand of the Lord was upon Ezra because he; had prepared himself; sought the Lord; was willing to step out in faith and was willing to face difficult situations. Ezra was not the only person who experienced the hand of the Lord upon him.... The Lord was also with a contemporary, Nehemiah - Neh 2:18 “And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.” Sometimes the hand of the Lord was for the purpose of judgment - 1 Sam 5:6 “The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.”
But here we have considered the working of God for good in the life of his servant. How will the hand of the Lord be for us? For our good, if we emulate Ezra by preparing ourselves to be useful to the Master! Seeking the Lord with diligence and faith! Stepping out in faith against the odds. Facing difficult issues and situations head on. Let the example of Ezra encourage us to so live in Christ, that one day we can look back at the events in our lives and say:
“The Hand Of The Lord My God Was Upon Me”!
“The Hand Of The Lord My God Was Upon Me”!
