Ezra 7 - Recognizing God's Hand at Work

About 60 years after the rededication of the temple, we are finally truly introduced to Ezra as he returns to Jerusalem from Babylon in this chapter.    His geneology shows that he can trace his priestly lineage through the last high priest before the captivity and some well know priests like Zadok, all the way back to Aaron.  He is repeatedly described as a teacher of the Law, whom the Hand of the Lord was upon.  In fact, according to vs 10, it indicated that God's Hand was on him "for Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel."  This verse shows the natural progression of STUDY->OBSERVE/OBEY->TEACH.

The decree of King Artaxerxes, allowing any Israelite in his realm to return, providing gold, silver, and freewill offerings, and treasury money for supplies and sacrifices, and granting civil authority, truly showed that it was God "Who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way and Who has extended His good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials"  (vs 27,28).  In response, Ezra praised God!


This passage confirms what God has been teaching me, that in order to teach effectively, we must allow the study of His Word to touch our own lives first, and that we must live it out.  This passage also shows that we need to be able to recognize God at work and praise Him for it; and because we see Him at work, it should motivate us to do His work as well.