Ezra is a short book with a lot of lists, but I think the theme I noticed this time is God's hand over the government and politics.
It was God who softened Cyrus's heart toward the temple building. The red tape after the finished foundation seemed like a major setback, but in the end, it led to the support of 3 different kings.
It was God who appointed Ezra, through Artaxerxes. He was a man who knew and loved the Law, and was sensitive to the direction God wanted them to go. When he heard about the issues and sin facing God's people, he dealt with it immediately.
Considering we are facing an eminent change in the future of American politics and government, with either Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton to be our next president, I am relieved to read Ezra's story and remember that God is in control.
And another thing I noticed is this. Ezra wasn't the king. There wasn't a godly king. Yet God used Ezra for his purpose, despite who was currently in power. He used Ezra's skill with law to influence those not-so-wonderful leaders to do what was God's will. At the end, they were championing his cause (God's cause) and paying for it to be completed! We don't have to have a godly president for God's work to be done. A lot of times we blame the government for hungry children, the homeless, the moral corruption in this country. And while some of that can surely be traced back to the Top, there is much that we can do in our neighborhoods, communities, and cities to fight back against injustice. God has appointed Ezras all over our nation who are doing His work, and will continue to do His work--NO MATTER WHO GETS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER. The people at the top actually have very little power to change actual lives. But we do. We can change actual lives, just by being obedient and available to His leading.
Doesn't that make you sigh with relief?!
Doesn't it make you want to listen for His call?
Next time: Nehemiah 1-2
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