Ezra
8 reminds me that we have responsibility to be accountable to one
another and to God. The chapter is clear that trusting in God is not
an excuse for carelessness or shortcuts. The chapter provides more
details about Ezra’s trip from Babylon to Jerusalem (mentioned in
the previous chapter). Ezra himself tells the story, “Many
family leaders came up to Jerusalem with me from Babylonia“.
After listing the heads of family and number of each group, Ezra
noticed, “I
looked for Levites among the people and priests. But I didn’t find
any“.
There was definite planning and preparation involved. I think some
people say “I am just trusting the Lord” as an excuse not to
prepare. It is interesting to see how Ezra intertwines his effort
with God’s results. “I
sent… men to Iddo… He and his relatives were temple servants
there… to bring some attendants to us for the house of our God“.
The very next line says, “The
gracious hand of our God helped us“.
The only time the disciples were waiting, was after the crucifixion
and BEFORE the Holy Spirit was poured out on them. “The
doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the
Jews”
(John 20:19). After Pentecost, the disciples are always on the way
someplace when God uses them. James 1:22 reminds us, “But
be doers of the word, and not hearers only“.
Ezra
continues his lesson with the importance of prayer. “I
told the people not to eat any food. In that way, we made ourselves
low in the sight of God. We prayed that he would give us and our
children a safe journey. We asked him to keep safe everything we
owned“.
It is important to realize this relatively small group of people
would have to cross over a dangerous route with a fortune. The king
had offered to send soldiers and horseman to protect them from
bandits, but Ezra answered, “Our
God would keep us safe“.
Ezra explains, “The
gracious hand of our God helps everyone who looks to him. But he
becomes very angry with anyone who deserts him“.
Again, this is not an invitation to foolish or reckless behavior.
Jesus rebuked Satan, “Don’t
put the Lord your God to the test”
(Deuteronomy 6:16). Ezra proclaimed, “The
powerful hand of our God helped us. He kept us safe from enemies and
robbers along the way“.
Prayer gives us an opportunity to praise later!
The
chapter ends with a few critical statements about financial
accountability. Everything was carefully counted and documented
before they left. “I
weighed out 25 tons of silver… almost four tons of gold“.
Next, each person was given specific responsibility for a portion.
“Guard
all of those things carefully until you weigh them out…Then the
priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred
articles“.
It was then counted again upon arrival in Jerusalem. And notice it
was verified in public to avoid temptation. “Weigh
them in… the Lord’s temple in Jerusalem. Do it in front of the
leading priests and the Levites. Make sure the family leaders of
Israel are watching.”
There is an old expression that says, “You have to have a way to
keep an honest man honest”. “Everything
was listed by number and weight. And the total weight was recorded at
that time“.
Ezra also made a thought provoking statement about you and I, “You
as well as these articles are consecrated to the Lord“.
You are the most precious thing in the universe to God. Count on
that!