In Ezra Chapter 7 King Artaxerxes sends Ezra out of captivity to teach. Ezra is a descendant of Aaron and is described in verse 6, “this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.” The king seemed deeply affected by Ezra. He wrote a decree that allowed Ezra to leave and take anyone he wanted along with him. Not only was Ezra sent out but he was sent with silver, gold and money. Some of the money was to be used for sacrifices to God and some for whatever he chose. Because of Artaxerxes relationship with Ezra he had learned some things about The LORD. His letter, the letter of the king of Persia refers to God In verse 12, as “God of heaven.” He makes it a law that Ezra is to teach the people “Beyond the River.” And that whatever and however much Ezra asks for doing this and for fulfilling God’s law must be done. Furthermore he makes it illegal to ask for tribute or taxes from anyone serving in the House of God. Artaxerxes was so moved by God through Ezra, a man who had the Law of God in his hand (He studied the law, he knew it and he lived and taught it) that he moved from having a relationship with Ezra to having a relationship with God. And he wanted other people to know about Him too. So He sent out Ezra to teach them. I want to have that effect on people too. I want my relationship the LORD to be contagious. I want people to know His steadfast love, His never ending faith. Ezra lived in captivity but he shared God with the king and because of that the king released him and anyone else that chose to be released. Ezra had the hand of God on Him. Believer, you and I have God abiding in us! We are the house of God. We have His power and authority. We can have an impact. We have to live it. Stop living like a prisoner and start viewing your circumstances as the opportunity to glorify God. Share Him. In verses 27-28 Ezra responds to the King’s decree, and it shows his relationship with God was more than a head knowledge. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the kings mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.”
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 12:16:49 +0000
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