As Ezra details the people and plans for their return to Jerusalem, he makes a profound statement in verse 21:
“I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, ‘The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.’”
He had made a bold statement to the pagan king, declaring God’s greatness and their faith in God to protect them.
But now the reality of the dangers they faced caused that faith to waiver.
He couldn’t go back and ask for the king’s help without revealing his own weak faith or suggesting that his God was not able to protect them.
So he called for all the people to fast and pray and ask God to watch over them on the perilous journey.
I can really relate to Ezra’s faltering faith. When God called Randy into ministry, over 20 years ago, I was filled with excitement and bravado about setting out on this adventure. But when God’s plan included removing almost every security blanket from our lives so that we would trust in Him alone, it was humbling to recall my own boldness.
Like Ezra, we couldn’t go back and say, “I know I said that God would provide for us, but….”
When God calls us to trust Him and pursue the adventure He has written for us, we have to hunker down in prayer, encourage one another with His history of faithfulness, and trust Him to cut a path through the wilderness.
What adventure is God calling you into?
What dangers lurk?
How can I join you in prayer that God will protect you along the path as He did Ezra and his people?
“I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, ‘The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.’”
He had made a bold statement to the pagan king, declaring God’s greatness and their faith in God to protect them.
But now the reality of the dangers they faced caused that faith to waiver.
He couldn’t go back and ask for the king’s help without revealing his own weak faith or suggesting that his God was not able to protect them.
So he called for all the people to fast and pray and ask God to watch over them on the perilous journey.
I can really relate to Ezra’s faltering faith. When God called Randy into ministry, over 20 years ago, I was filled with excitement and bravado about setting out on this adventure. But when God’s plan included removing almost every security blanket from our lives so that we would trust in Him alone, it was humbling to recall my own boldness.
Like Ezra, we couldn’t go back and say, “I know I said that God would provide for us, but….”
When God calls us to trust Him and pursue the adventure He has written for us, we have to hunker down in prayer, encourage one another with His history of faithfulness, and trust Him to cut a path through the wilderness.
What adventure is God calling you into?
What dangers lurk?
How can I join you in prayer that God will protect you along the path as He did Ezra and his people?
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