Accomplish GREAT THINGS through God’s MIGHTY HAND
May 16
Bible Reading: Ezra Chapters 7-10
Accomplish GREAT THINGS through God’s MIGHTY HAND
"On the first day of the first
month he (Ezra) began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the
fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according
to the good hand of his God upon him. 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 7:9-10)
About sixty
years had passed after the Temple in Jerusalem was completed and dedicated
under the leadership of Zerubbabel. During this time the priest Ezra, who was a
direct descendant of the High Priest Aaron (Ezra 7:1-5), a skilled scribe and
an expert in interpreting the laws of God through Moses, had remained in
Babylon to compile a historical record of the Israelites. As Ezra prepared his
heart to seek God and do His will, he felt inspired to travel to Jerusalem to
teach law to the Jews living there and got permission plus all provisions from
King Artaxerxes on this venture. God’s mighty hand was upon Ezra, as he
explains thus: "So I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me;
and I gathered leading men of Israel to go up with me." (Ezra 7:28b).
Ezra found strength and courage
knowing that God was with him every step of the way (Ezra 7:9, 10, 28). He sought God
through fasting and prayer at the river Ahava for both provision and protection
to back up the following words he had spoken to the king earlier: "The
hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and
His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." (Ezra 8:22b). As
Ezra writes his travelogue, the same hand of God delivered him from the enemy
and every ambush that would take place during the way: "Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of
the first month, to go to Jerusalem. And
the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy
and from ambush along the road." (Ezra 8:31)
Indeed, Ezra
could accomplish great things through God’s mighty hand – he led the Jews
living in Jerusalem to a great spiritual renewal as they put away their foreign
wives, confessed their sins to God and made a covenant to serve God alone (Ezra
10:1-44). We too can accomplish great things for God when we trust God for
support and rely on His mighty hand for help.
- "Behold, the
Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it
cannot hear." (Isaiah 59:1)
- “Fear not, for I am
with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I
will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
- “Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." (1 Peter 5:6)
