The Power of God (part 8) – Trusting God's Providence
Introduction. As Ezra prepared to leave Babylon for Jerusalem in Ezra 8:21-23, he found himself in the same perplexing situation we all face sometimes. It is a moment where we can either “trust in the Lord with our heart and not lean on our own understanding,” as Joshua and Caleb, or shrink back into obscurity and shame as the other ten spies did. Ezra had asked the king to allow him to go to Jerusalem and the king had not only granted his request (Ezra 7:6), but had also given him gold, silver, and precious articles to be taken to the temple (7:15-16). It was easy for him see how God had been working in all these, and Ezra praised Him and was greatly encouraged by how things had turned out. God’s providence was clearly on display and it made him confident.
He felt both confidence and assurance that God was working in his life. Yet, when the moment to leave arrived, Ezra realized there was no guard to protect this gold and silver from thieves and a four month journey over all sorts of terrain would leave them vulnerable to enemies and thieves. As he considered his options, he quickly realized that his first thought of asking for a guard from the king would not be possible: “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.’” (Ezra 8:22)
That he felt shame reveals how strongly he had considered this option. Ezra knew from his own understanding that it would be much safer to have armed soldiers escorting them, but he also could see the damage it would do to the king’s confidence in God. If Ezra could not trust God to give them a safe journey when they were taking precious things back to His temple, then the king’s attitude would be damaged. This clearly illustrates the paradox: Even though Ezra had been encouraged by all that had occurred, this new challenge had created some concern. Yet it is at these moments when, like Ezra, each servant of God has the opportunity to grow and manifest the depth of their faith and devotion to Him.
Ezra rose to the challenge by doing exactly what God had revealed should be done under such circumstances! In times of importunity and need, God has always recognized fasting and prayer as the strongest means to lead Him to act. So, Ezra proclaimed a fast for the entire group who were traveling to Jerusalem: “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.” Ezra is a great example of what to do when we begin to feel concern and want God to know how deeply we want Him to fulfill His promises. Later, by inspiration, God revealed that throughout that four-month journey to Jerusalem: “He answered our prayer,” “and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.” (Ezra 8:21-23; 31-32). Ezra faced his challenging moment with courage, faith, and submission. In this way Ezra’s concerns were channeled to do exactly what God has asked Christians to do today whenever we feel concern and anxiety:
“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)
Thus, Ezra is a perfect example for those who want to face life’s challenges and honor God while enduring them. We see his deepest concerns and his strongest convictions. As we consider the steps he took to do his very best to please God and look at how God’s providential guidance and help brought him success, we can weigh our own struggles on the same balance to assess our own faith in times of trial.
We know God’s promises and proclaim them in the exactly the same way Ezra did. We have God’s solemn promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Regardless of how the circumstances look, God has promised He will always be with us. He will never leave or forsake us, even if we are “walking through the valley of the shadow of death.” God’s promise is clear and there must be no doubt. But the proof of our faith is seen in our response. With true faith, we will always “boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6). Even though often no one but God will witness these struggles, we need to realize how important it is to God that we have enough faith to live through such events with our convictions intact.
Ezra lived by his faith, just as Abraham did while waiting for a son from his aged and barren wife Sarah. Though the outward circumstances gave no reason to hope or trust, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” (Rom. 4:20). Whenever we face our own difficult circumstances though they might not rise to the level of Abraham or Ezra, we too must refuse to waver at God’s promise. Such strengthened faith gives glory, praise and adoration to God. What an opportunity such difficult times bring for us to give God glory.
As Paul, imprisoned as an evil doer, knowing he would be soon executed as a common criminal, he too faced an extreme and dire situation. He too would have to choose whether to waver or be strengthened by faith and give God the glory. Paul refused to feel any shame or remorse that his work as an apostle had led him to this imprisonment and terrible death. Instead he said: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2Tim. 1:12). Paul had an unwavering confidence that God would fulfill all His promises even under these most extreme of conditions. Regardless of the adversities we may be called upon to face, we must find the faith and trust in God’s power to deliver us even out of death just as Paul did because the alternative is tragic: “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.” (Pr. 24:10).
Conclusion. As the destruction of Jerusalem neared and the Hebrews were warned about the dire circumstances they would soon face, God made the same demand of them He had made through Habakkuk. Thus, as the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 A.D. was fast approaching, God reminded them of His expectations when He told Habakkuk that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Babylon centuries earlier:
- Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, 28 and has extended mercy to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty princes. So I was encouraged, as the hand of the Lord my God was upon me; (Ezra 7:27-28).
He felt both confidence and assurance that God was working in his life. Yet, when the moment to leave arrived, Ezra realized there was no guard to protect this gold and silver from thieves and a four month journey over all sorts of terrain would leave them vulnerable to enemies and thieves. As he considered his options, he quickly realized that his first thought of asking for a guard from the king would not be possible: “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.’” (Ezra 8:22)
That he felt shame reveals how strongly he had considered this option. Ezra knew from his own understanding that it would be much safer to have armed soldiers escorting them, but he also could see the damage it would do to the king’s confidence in God. If Ezra could not trust God to give them a safe journey when they were taking precious things back to His temple, then the king’s attitude would be damaged. This clearly illustrates the paradox: Even though Ezra had been encouraged by all that had occurred, this new challenge had created some concern. Yet it is at these moments when, like Ezra, each servant of God has the opportunity to grow and manifest the depth of their faith and devotion to Him.
Ezra rose to the challenge by doing exactly what God had revealed should be done under such circumstances! In times of importunity and need, God has always recognized fasting and prayer as the strongest means to lead Him to act. So, Ezra proclaimed a fast for the entire group who were traveling to Jerusalem: “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.” Ezra is a great example of what to do when we begin to feel concern and want God to know how deeply we want Him to fulfill His promises. Later, by inspiration, God revealed that throughout that four-month journey to Jerusalem: “He answered our prayer,” “and the hand of our God was upon us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambush along the road.” (Ezra 8:21-23; 31-32). Ezra faced his challenging moment with courage, faith, and submission. In this way Ezra’s concerns were channeled to do exactly what God has asked Christians to do today whenever we feel concern and anxiety:
“In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7)
Thus, Ezra is a perfect example for those who want to face life’s challenges and honor God while enduring them. We see his deepest concerns and his strongest convictions. As we consider the steps he took to do his very best to please God and look at how God’s providential guidance and help brought him success, we can weigh our own struggles on the same balance to assess our own faith in times of trial.
We know God’s promises and proclaim them in the exactly the same way Ezra did. We have God’s solemn promise: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Regardless of how the circumstances look, God has promised He will always be with us. He will never leave or forsake us, even if we are “walking through the valley of the shadow of death.” God’s promise is clear and there must be no doubt. But the proof of our faith is seen in our response. With true faith, we will always “boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb. 13:5-6). Even though often no one but God will witness these struggles, we need to realize how important it is to God that we have enough faith to live through such events with our convictions intact.
Ezra lived by his faith, just as Abraham did while waiting for a son from his aged and barren wife Sarah. Though the outward circumstances gave no reason to hope or trust, “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.” (Rom. 4:20). Whenever we face our own difficult circumstances though they might not rise to the level of Abraham or Ezra, we too must refuse to waver at God’s promise. Such strengthened faith gives glory, praise and adoration to God. What an opportunity such difficult times bring for us to give God glory.
As Paul, imprisoned as an evil doer, knowing he would be soon executed as a common criminal, he too faced an extreme and dire situation. He too would have to choose whether to waver or be strengthened by faith and give God the glory. Paul refused to feel any shame or remorse that his work as an apostle had led him to this imprisonment and terrible death. Instead he said: “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2Tim. 1:12). Paul had an unwavering confidence that God would fulfill all His promises even under these most extreme of conditions. Regardless of the adversities we may be called upon to face, we must find the faith and trust in God’s power to deliver us even out of death just as Paul did because the alternative is tragic: “If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.” (Pr. 24:10).
Conclusion. As the destruction of Jerusalem neared and the Hebrews were warned about the dire circumstances they would soon face, God made the same demand of them He had made through Habakkuk. Thus, as the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome in 70 A.D. was fast approaching, God reminded them of His expectations when He told Habakkuk that Jerusalem would be destroyed by Babylon centuries earlier:
- Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him." 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. (Heb.10:35-39).
- When the material creation is continually recharging our faith and we see His everlasting power and divine nature through the things that are made.
- As day by day we are reading in the Scriptures about God’s ability to intervene in this creation in any way He chooses to protect and bless His servants.
- As we see how many different ways His faithful servants have been saved by His power. Along with how confident they were because of their faith.
- “We know that all things word together for good to those who love God.