Articles
Ezra and God’s Faithfulness
Ezra and God’s Faithfulness
To trust God is not always easy. Often God’s promises and current situations simply do not appear to line up! As we begin reading Ezra we need to remember where we are in Israel’s history. ‘Way back’ over 70 years earlier, the people had gone through the complete destruction of their country, religion, and lives. Babylon had come. Those that weren’t killed during this war were taken captive and forcibly moved to the country of Babylon.
Jeremiah had counseled them to accept it! Settle down, marry, start a new life in a new country. Whether willfully or not, that is what they did. Thus, there would be at this point at least one new generation that had never seen the old land. They never had the experience of a free people, never saw the Temple of God, never experienced the religious days of Passover and Day of Atonement. They would only have the stories of times long gone and a ‘homeland’ they had never seen.
They did have the promise of God: Jeremiah 29:10 "For thus says the Lord, 'When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. (read also Jer. 25:12-14; and especially Jer. 33:7-13). [Such references are often added to an article with the admonition to go and read them… yet most of us don’t! Really, you should go read these!]
But this same God had ‘allowed’ them to be destroyed! He didn’t protect them from Babylon. (Actually, it was worse, in that God had said HE CAUSED IT). Can he – will he actually restore a destroyed country?
We now will read here in Ezra and Nehemiah that amazing story of restoration! God DOES what He said He would do! God is FAITHFUL!
Thus, we learn about God’s steadfast love / lovingkindness, from the Hebrew word “checed”. They were about to "Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, For the Lord is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting"; and of those who bring a thank offering into the house of the Lord. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,' says the Lord” (Jer. 33:11). This is one of the most often used words to describe God’s relationship with His people, appearing nearly 250 times.
These are not just ‘stories’ for children’s bible class! “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
So today, WE must learn to put our trust in God. Our hope is not in politics, military strength, national wealth – but as children of God our hope is in God as now revealed in Jesus. Yet, we like Israel of old, are challenged with trusting God when things don’t look good. Are you trusting God?
Hugh DeLong
