Stand With God Ezra 8:23

So we fasted and we sought God for this and He answered our prayer.




Ezra was a man who trusted the Lord with all that he had. This guy walked with God and here is one of the prize passages that illustrate this for us. Ezra is preparing a return trip to Jerusalem. He is going to be leading a group of men from Babylon to Jerusalem. Not only will they be traveling through very rough territory, they are carrying with them a sizeable amount of gold and sliver, which today would total in the millions of dollars. They would be easy prey for thieves and robbers on this difficult journey.

Ezra wanted to ask the king for an army guard to help protect them on this difficult journey. However, in verse 22 we read that Ezra had told the king that "the gracious hand of God is on everyone who looks to Him and His great anger is against all who forsake Him." Ezra hated to ask for help when his testimony was that God was able to protect His own.

So, Ezra fasted and prayed to the Lord for this and God answered his prayer.

There are two thoughts that stand out in this passage. First of all, when we give something to God, we need to leave it there. Ezra had told the king of God's power and His provisions. He shared with the king God's all-sufficiency and here we find Ezra's faith being put to the test. It would not have been out of line at all for Ezra to request an armed escort from the king. The king had given him all these riches to present at the Temple. In all probability, the king expected to send a military escort for their protection.

However, Ezra did not want to take the chance that God's name and character might be blemished by his faithlessness. Ezra did something that we need to take notice of; he and his people fasted and they prayed to God. God does not want us to walk through this life alone. He wants to go before us and He wants to take away the stumbling stones that litter the paths that we walk. He not only can provide for us, He stands ready to provide for us.

All we have to do is do what Ezra did; first of all, we need to trust God. Second, we have to look to God as a first response as opposed to our last resort. Prayer and fasting are available to us for a reason. They work! The Bible tells us that God heard Ezra's prayer and He answered their prayer. He gave Ezra the peace that He needed to begin this dangerous journey.

In verse 31 we read that "the hand of the Lord was upon us and He protected us from the hand of the enemies and the bandits along the way and we arrived in Jerusalem."

God will protect you as you seek to stand upon His Word. No matter what the circumstances may be, stand with God and He will stand with you!