Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "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." So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.—Ezra 8:21-23
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
I love Ezra because he was such a good shepherd to the people. He stood on the word of God and really cared for them both spiritually and physically. The journey to Jerusalem was long and dangerous, and I am sure it was a comfort to those who were traveling with him to know that Ezra not only knew this, but was also preparing for it ahead of time by seeking the Lord in prayer and fasting. It was not all about the building project for Ezra. He truly cared about the people God had sovereignty placed in his care and lived out his relationship with the Lord openly and transparently before them. He exampled humility and spiritual dependence before God. By his actions he showed that he knew God was in total control and had a plan for them. They didn’t have to rely on the world…God was faithful and His options, limitless.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.—Jeremiah 29:11-14
He wanted them to remember why they went into captivity in the first place and encouraged them to obey the word of God so as not to make the same mistake twice.
I like Ezra cause I can relate to him. He speaks often to the “every day” and reminds me as I read that the “good hand of God” is also on me as I seek His way and His will. In the verses above Ezra speaks to safety on the road which is a fear that I have struggled with over the course of my life. Recently, because of changes to our routine, I have had to spend much time in the car with my precious family where sudden, catastrophic loss is, in my thinking, always just seconds away. The travel stress really began to wear on me and drove me to seek the Lord. (praise God!)
God is gracious and as He did for Ezra, He did for me as I sought His help in my fear. The Spirit of God brought Psalm 121 to my mind and its truth has conquered and comforted me of late more times than I can count. Beloved…Seek the Lord daily. Seek Him in your trials and troubles. Seek Him in your fear and anxiety. He is Your Shepherd. In Him, you have everything you need for your journey.
I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.—Psalm 121
