WHAT THE LORD GIVES

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Ezra 7:1-10

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

It’s interesting that we get through six chapters of the Book of Ezra before we actually are introduced to the man who the book was named after. Scripture tells us Ezra was a “teacher well versed in the Law of Moses” who was sent from Babylon to Jerusalem where he would teach the “Law of the Lord” in Israel. We read where Ezra traveled in the “seventh year of the king” which is thought to be 457 BC. He departed “Babylon on the first day of the first month” (the Hebrew month of Abib) and “arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month” (the Hebrew month Ab).

Embedded in this introduction to Ezra are some important points for us to remember as we consider God and what He provides. Sometimes I think we go through our lives taking the most fundamental things about the Lord for granted because He always does them for us. Consider these three things from this passage as we consider what the Lord gives:

1. The Lord gives us guidance.

Indeed, the very scripture we are studying from is the inspired, infallible word of the Lord Most High, the same Lord who gave the Law of Moses to the people of Israel and, in turn, to Ezra to use in his teaching. The Lord, not only the God of Israel but the God of all peoples, provided guidance then and He still does so today through His words and the Holy Spirit.

2. The Lord gives us provision.

Ezra and his entourage needed supplied for the four month trek to Jerusalem. Note that our scriptures tell us the “king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.” Ezra wasn’t equipped because he had gained personal favor from the Persian royalty. No, he was equipped because the hand of God was on him. And the good news is that this same holy hand, the holy hand of God, is on us as well as He provides for us in accordance with His perfect will and way.

3. The Lord gives us protection.

As Ezra and his fellow travelers made their way to Jerusalem, they entered into a journey which had the potential for great danger. There was always the possibility of attack. But we read where Ezra and his group made it safely to Jerusalem, not because they had done a great job warding off any would-be enemies but rather because “the gracious hand of his God was on him.” What a comfort it is for us to know that the Lord still gives us protection today, ever watching over us while keeping His gracious hand upon us.

Yes, what an awesome Lord we serve! A Lord who guides, provides and protects now just as He did in the days of Ezra.

Thanks be to God for His goodness, grace and love!

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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