ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY. Ezra 8:21-36 This is evidence of a leader who knows his God, his people, and himself. He understands God's strength and recognizes his own weakness. He puts God first in this new venture and personally claims God's promises. What an exemplary leader—one who uses what he has, accepts what God gives, admits dependence, and is grateful! Such individuals understand the importance of sincere prayer, fasting, and obedience from the heart.
The stewardship given to Ezra included about twenty-five tons of precious metals, 625 bushels of wheat, 600 gallons of oil, and 600 gallons of wine, as well as the well-being of roughly 7000 people. He could be relied on to do what was necessary and handle emergency situations, always aware of God's presence with him.
When we make changes or take action, we need to carefully prepare our minds with wisdom and our hearts with dedication to what is to come — whether visible or hidden. Governments, assemblies, and families require wise, committed leadership. Prayer and fasting show a sincere consideration of what lies ahead. Through this, we recognize our need for God's guidance, protection, and strength for the work He assigns us.
Prayer and fasting help us focus less on superficial things and more on what God desires, our sense of responsibility, and the resources available to us. Priests relied on Levites to carry out their work. Leading is one thing; having faithful supporters is another, and such support is rare and often goes unrecognized or unappreciated. Godliness and wisdom go together. "A prudent man foresees the evil..." When we recognize potential danger, we can take steps to avoid it.
Chief men have the authority to take necessary actions and delegate responsibilities to others. Men of understanding can see beyond the obvious or superficial to what is truly real. They know how to reach people's hearts so that the commands of the chief men are responded to appropriately. It is one thing to know what is right and obey reluctantly, and quite another to be able to show people why it is in their best interest to do a task or accept a change gladly. In a work setting, spiritual needs are of primary importance.
I wonder what made that man, Sherebiah, so capable and a man of understanding that God arranged for him to come out of obscurity—able to handle a work that seemed beyond the skill and ability of most, but was necessary to guide and organize that gathering host. Behind that action was the good hand of our God, who knew the need of the hour was a man to bear a load of responsibility and lead people in a work of faith so that testimony for God would begin in that place.
Wherever and whenever work for God needs to be done, we look to God Himself to find a special person to rise to the challenge of defining the need and, with understanding, to take the lead for us. Sometimes we look around; sometimes behind, wondering if there is anyone we can find who bears the imprint of God’s divine hand on his shoulder, someone we can look to for leadership who will make us bolder.
Maybe we should look ahead to see if there's a young person who, with God's gift of understanding, is being raised up to help us become strong. That way, we may once again have the strength to overcome all opposition and keep this effort going. When people notice that, for some reason, work has stopped, it's important that we turn to God, whom all believers often appeal to for help and intervention to restart the work that was once strong but now needs rebuilding.
When we follow God's way, we can trust that the "good hand of our God to be upon us." The call to serve God today remains as vital now as it was in Ezra's time. God uses people sent to clarify the truth and to motivate His followers to act quickly and with enthusiasm in response to what God says. Insight and wisdom come from studying and applying the word of God, whether on our own or through teachings from trustworthy, caring, and faithful men.
Ezra had leadership qualities and understood his responsibility to take the initiative in the work. He also knew how to delegate responsibilities to others. The three days by the river possibly held symbolic meaning, suggesting that crossing it meant there was no turning back, helping them move into new territory and burn their bridges behind them. He did not pretend that the journey and the tasks ahead would be easy, but he conveyed that it was the right course. He was realistic, able to foresee potential dangers and how to handle them, while also instilling in those who followed him the confidence that God would see them through to the journey's end.
Fasting is not a public display of one's piety but a personal response to God, as we focus our minds, hearts, and lives on what we know to be His will or seek certainty about God's will. Fasting is not meant to be condemned nor to impress others, or vice versa. It increases awareness of being in God's presence for a specific purpose and is connected with true humility, submission, and obedience. Trusting in God is reasonable and often serves as a powerful testimony to the Gospel's influence in a Christian's life.
Ezra testified to the king about his trust in "the hand of our God," and he did not want to compromise his faith before the king. Probably for that reason, Ezra chose not to have an armed escort for protection on the journey. He was able to say, "The hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way." Confidence in God is genuine and clear when we rely on Him. After fasting and praying by the river, they all moved forward in faith and confidence in God's help. Ezra's leadership demonstrated his faith and inspired faith in those who followed him. God does answer prayer.
The worship of God's people is our primary act before serving Him. It is God who works in and through us, and we must be in fellowship with Him before engaging in sacred service. Holy people with holy offerings to give to our holy God produce sacred service in the house of God today. Carefulness in trusting holy things is expected of those entrusted with divine service. We can learn many lessons from those who have gone before us in their service to the Lord.
There is little description of the journey itself. Instead, praise is directed to God for His protection and guidance during those four months. The worship and service of the priests and Levites on behalf of the people was a priority once they safely arrived in Jerusalem. Ezra and those with him were responsible for bringing holy items worth millions of dollars. They ensured that what arrived in Jerusalem matched the amount they began with.
Care is always necessary when managing the finances that God allows His people to use. The sacrifices and offerings they made were expressions of thankfulness, gratitude, and joy for being led to the place God intended for them. Even the "powers that be," including government officials, were made aware that God's people are under authority. They were not there to change the government or interfere with the existing political system.