EZRA: FINDING HELP FROM THE HAND OF GOD
Ezra 7:6-10 NASB
In every aspect, all events around Ezra are not favorable. He is an exile in a pagan nation. But if there is one factor that works in his advantage, it is the hand of God. Let us examine how the very meaning of his name will works wonders for him and his people. The Name Ezra means a Divine Help.
Let s read our Text today from Ezra 7:6-10 NASB
6This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him. 7Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.
8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. 9For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him. 10For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Throughout the whole bible, there are many people who found guidance, strength, power, success and victory by the hand of God and one of them is Ezra.
Ezra was a priest in Israel. But when Israel was captured Babylonians and the Babylonians was conquered by Medo-Persians, he has many reasons to abandon and forget his office as a priest and live a normal life for his personal survival.
But for Ezra, the predicament and chaos that he is experiencing did not change his priority nor did it darken his calling and purpose. The more that the situation become dimmer for his nation, it became clear for Ezra that his people need him. Hence, he seeks God more being the priest of God for his people.
I - EZRA DISCOVERS HOW TO ATTRACT GOD’S FAVORABLE HAND
Ezra7:10 NKJV
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Human has tendency to look for men of authority and power for protection but Ezra decided to find help from God. For this, he made some important preparations. Before he can get divine help and intervention, Ezra has to prepare his heart.
1 – HE PREPARED HIS HEART FOR GOD – “Ezra had prepared his heart”
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
At the height of the discouraging situation, Ezra knew that the national sin and disobedience of his people as a whole cause their captivity. But Ezra knew that God is a merciful. And on that moment, more than ever, he needs to seek God and intercede for his people.
They may be captive and in bondage but their hearts must be unrestricted and prepared for God to speak and communicate. Because true freedom, victory, success and deliverance starts from the heart. Ezra starts the process of deliverance correctly. It begins from a prepared heart for God. He did not oblige his people to change their heart. He started it from himself. Ezra knew that if he wants to change the world, it should start from himself.
Let us read our verse again:
Ezra7:10 NKJV
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
Ezra prepared his heart and the next step to get help from the hand of God is to seek the Law of the Lord. To seek Him, he ponder the Word of the Lord
2 – HE PURSUE THE WORD OF THE LORD – “to seek the Law of the LORD”
To seek means to study the word of God. Ezra understands that the battle happened first in the spiritual realm and because it is spiritual battle he must prepare a spiritual armor which is the Word of God.
Ephesians 6:12
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,[a] against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ezra knew that no matter how difficult the situation may be at time, the Word of God can give them hope. The present situation may be telling them to give up or to compromise but the word of God is telling them to stay faithful because God is still in control and he has a plan for their hope and future.
Ezra has two options: To listen to the disappointing situation or to listen to the hope of God’s word. Obviously, he chose the latter one. But reading and pondering the word of God must be put into action. If he really believes the Word of God He must put it into practice.
Let us go back to our verse.
Ezra7:10 NKJV
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
3 – HE PRACTICE THE WORD OF THE LORD – “and to do it”
Plan is nothing unless you execute it into action. You may be planning to change, to return to your true family, to give your life to God, to forgive repentant husband, to give up your vices, to commit for the ministry, to share the word of God to your family, to be faithful to your wife and many other good intentional plans. But unless you execute your plans, they will remain as good intentions. You have to do it! Reading and knowing is good. But you have to put it into practice!
The prodigal son reflected on the mistake he did and realize he is wrong and he needs to return to his father. But not until he made the action and went back to his father he may not experience forgiveness and renewal of life.
Ezra realizes the importance of faith in action. The Word that he believes must be seen in his every day practice. And lastly, The Word must be shared to others. He preached the Word to other people.
Let us read again the verse for the last time.
Ezra7:10 NKJV
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
4 – HE PREACH THE WORD TO OTHER PEOPLE –“ to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.”
As a priest, Ezra knows his responsibilities:
1. He has to teach his people the Word of the Lord.
2. He has to illustrate the gospel by the burn offering in the temple
3. He has to make the word of God alive by demonstrating it in his own life
4. He has to show the people how to trust the word of God even in a difficult time
5. He has to encourage the people to leave the contaminated life and go back to the Lord
6. He has to pray for the revival and restoration of his people according to the promises of God
7. He has to be a living testimony of the mighty power of God’s hand
Ezra prepared his heart, pursues the word of the Lord, practiced the word of the Lord and preached the word of God. As a result, he attracted the help of God’s hand. He discovers the benefits of God’s hand on his side.
II- EZRA DISCOVERS THE BENEFITS OF FAVORABLE HAND OF GOD
1 - DIVINE FAVOR: THE HAND OF GOD CAUSE HIS REQUEST TO BE GRANTED
Ezra 7:6
This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.
It takes the miraculous hand of God to have the request of Ezra be granted by the Persian king. King Artaxerxes, the successor of King Cyrus has nothing to do with the God of Israel. Being the king of the empire who conquered Babylon and its king Nebuchadnezzar he may feel so secured and proud to pay respect to Israel which they also captured. But Ezra knew that even the heart of the king is under the hand of God. Ezra cannot do anything to influence the king. But he knew that only God can do it in his favor.
Proverbs 21:1
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.
Divine favor comes from the hand of God. We have the hand that causes the planets and world to move according to God’s will. And the hand of God will touch our boss, our clients, and our situations if we have the favor of God.
2 – DIVINE FLEXIBILITY: THE HAND OF GOD ENABLES THEM TO BE RESILIENT
Ezra 7:9
For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.
The word Flexibility or Resiliency means the ability to bounce back. And by the hand of God, the Jews return from captivity with all the support and approval of the King.
To come back to Jerusalem is Every Israelite’s dream during the time of captivity. But they cannot imagine that they will come back with the King’s blessing. It’s like a dream comes true for all of them.
Some of us may already fell down spiritually or financially. We may be experiencing setbacks in some areas of our lives. But in God’s hand, we can be flexible and resilient like the people of God. We will bounce back and we will return stronger if the hand of God is with us.
3 - DIVINE FORCE: THE HAND OF GOD STRENGTHENED HIM
Ezra 7:27-28
Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king's mighty princes Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.
Ezra becomes strong man because of the hand of God. Some of us may be feeling weak and fearful. Some of us may be feeling afraid to start some good things or afraid to stop some bad things.
We may never have the courage or a brave heart to endeavor for a challenging task or projects. But if you are sure that you have the hand of God with you, then you don’t have to be afraid because God will give you the courage and the strength. You have divine force in God’s hand.
4 - DIVINE FELLOWSHIP: THE HAND OF GOD BRINGS HIM SUPPORT GROUP
Ezra 8:18
According to the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of insight of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel, namely Sherebiah, and his sons and brothers, 18 men;
Sometimes we are afraid to obey God because we are afraid that people will abandon us and we are afraid to go alone. But if we really have the hands of God with us, God will send us people who will support us and join us to do the will of God. As we continue our journey in serving the Lord, the Lord will add more people who will join us until it will become a fellowship of believer or a divine family for the glory of God.
At the start, God may test our obedience by letting us going alone, but if we will obey him in the lone moment, He will send us support group along the way if we are trusting the hand of God.
5 - DIVINE FORTIFICATION: THE HAND OF GOD PROTECT THEM ON THEIR JOURNEY
Ezra 8:22-22
For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.
Ezra 8:31
Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way.
Ezra was ashamed to ask for a security escort from the king’s troops because he had already boasted that the hand of God is able to protect them along the way to Jerusalem. So they fasted and pray for the hand of God to protect them.
We have to understand that they are carrying with them tons of gold which are needed for the temple of God. That wealth and even the purpose of their journey would encourage their enemies to come against them along the way and even kill them. But even the minds of their enemies are under the hands of God. They were able to arrive at Jerusalem without any problem along their way. Indeed, the hand of God is our best protection along the journey of our life.
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this author at spy2rb@yahoo.com or send message on the comment portion below.
