In the mornings I have been reading through the book of Ezra which details the return of the children of Israel to Jerusalem. Ezra was a priest and scribe who not only led exiles back to the land God provided them, but taught them the Law of God. His knowledge of God was not theory but to be put into practice. Familiarity with doctrine does us no good unless we apply it personally to our lives.
I was impressed with Ezra's leadership in Ezra 8:21-23: "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer." What can pass for spiritual leadership today can be no different than following a business structure or a cult of personality. Ezra had been chosen by the king of Persia to fulfil a great task, but Ezra did not appeal to his "authority" granted by God or the king: he led the people to seek the LORD with prayer and fasting so they might be led and protected by the Almighty King of kings.
The scriptures demonstrate this is true spiritual leadership, to lead people in following God - not seeking to make loyal followers of self. Ezra had been bold to speak of the power of the great God of Israel to the king of Persia, and he would have felt a hypocrite to beg for assistance when their enemy waited to attack them on the road. Wasn't God able to safely escort them to His desired destination? Ezra and the people fasted and humbled themselves before God, and simply said God graciously "...answered our prayer." God did not respond to the prayers of His people because they afflicted themselves, paying their divine dues to sacrifice comfort for the blessing and guidance of God. God answered the prayers of His people because He had promised and delighted to do so. Ezra and the people sought the LORD in fasting not to earn an audience with God but denied themselves in their fervent desire to draw near to God in faith.
As believers we can make the mistake of assuming God will bless our own plans by virtue of our belief in Him rather than seeking Him for guidance and wisdom. God's people ought to seek Him rather than leaning on their own understanding, anointed and called as they might be. This is not a hard lesson to learn, but it is a challenge to remember and practice. As children of God may we be as His hungry little ones, running to Him so He might supply our needs. When our children were little we would instruct them to ask us before they ate or drank whatever was on offer: is it unreasonable for God to desire the same for us? In the scope of life's decisions one snack or meal is a small decision. If we will trust God united as one, then let us seek Him as Ezra did, trusting He will hear our cries and answer our prayer.
I was impressed with Ezra's leadership in Ezra 8:21-23: "Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to the king, saying, "The hand of our God is upon all those for good who seek Him, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer." What can pass for spiritual leadership today can be no different than following a business structure or a cult of personality. Ezra had been chosen by the king of Persia to fulfil a great task, but Ezra did not appeal to his "authority" granted by God or the king: he led the people to seek the LORD with prayer and fasting so they might be led and protected by the Almighty King of kings.
The scriptures demonstrate this is true spiritual leadership, to lead people in following God - not seeking to make loyal followers of self. Ezra had been bold to speak of the power of the great God of Israel to the king of Persia, and he would have felt a hypocrite to beg for assistance when their enemy waited to attack them on the road. Wasn't God able to safely escort them to His desired destination? Ezra and the people fasted and humbled themselves before God, and simply said God graciously "...answered our prayer." God did not respond to the prayers of His people because they afflicted themselves, paying their divine dues to sacrifice comfort for the blessing and guidance of God. God answered the prayers of His people because He had promised and delighted to do so. Ezra and the people sought the LORD in fasting not to earn an audience with God but denied themselves in their fervent desire to draw near to God in faith.
As believers we can make the mistake of assuming God will bless our own plans by virtue of our belief in Him rather than seeking Him for guidance and wisdom. God's people ought to seek Him rather than leaning on their own understanding, anointed and called as they might be. This is not a hard lesson to learn, but it is a challenge to remember and practice. As children of God may we be as His hungry little ones, running to Him so He might supply our needs. When our children were little we would instruct them to ask us before they ate or drank whatever was on offer: is it unreasonable for God to desire the same for us? In the scope of life's decisions one snack or meal is a small decision. If we will trust God united as one, then let us seek Him as Ezra did, trusting He will hear our cries and answer our prayer.
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