God's Unstoppable Plans: Lessons from Ezra's Journey

 

Summary

In the final chapter of our journey through the book of Ezra, we reflect on the remarkable story of 50,000 people who left Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem. Their journey was marked by a commitment to worship, as they prioritized building the altar and laying the temple's foundation. Despite facing opposition that halted their work for 16 years, God's purpose ultimately prevailed, reminding us that His plans are unstoppable. This narrative encourages us to remain hopeful and patient, even when our prayers seem unanswered for long periods, as God can move in unexpected ways.

Ezra, introduced in chapter seven, was a priest and a scribe, tracing his lineage back to Aaron, the first high priest. He was also a well-placed government official, holding a position akin to a secretary of state for Jewish affairs. His influence in the Persian administration highlights how God often works through people in positions of power, like Daniel, Esther, and Nehemiah. Ezra's story is not about his accomplishments but about what God did through him, as evidenced by the recurring phrase, "the hand of God was on him."

The hand of God is a central theme, providing courage, moving us to serve, and being mediated through His word. Ezra's courage to approach the king and request a reversal of policy was rooted in his confidence that God's hand was upon him. Similarly, the Levites, initially reluctant to return to Jerusalem, were moved by God's hand to fulfill their calling. Ezra's dedication to studying, doing, and teaching God's word was the foundation for experiencing God's hand in his life.

As we conclude this series, we are reminded that God's hand is for good on all who seek Him. He works through faithful people, even if they are few in number, and has delightful surprises in store for those who love Him. The story of Ezra encourages us to seek God earnestly, trust in His sovereign plans, and remain open to His calling, knowing that His hand will guide and sustain us.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Timing and Sovereignty: The story of Ezra reminds us that God's plans prevail despite delays and opposition. Just as the rebuilding of Jerusalem was halted for 16 years, we may experience seasons of waiting. Yet, God's timing is perfect, and His purposes are unstoppable. Trusting in His sovereignty encourages us to remain hopeful and patient, knowing that He can move in unexpected ways. [01:34]

2. The Hand of God Provides Courage: Ezra's courage to approach the king and request a reversal of policy was rooted in his confidence that God's hand was upon him. This teaches us that true courage comes from knowing that God is with us, affirming our actions and giving us favor. When we face daunting tasks, we can find strength in the assurance that God's hand is guiding us. [12:40]

3. God Moves Us to Serve: The Levites' initial reluctance to return to Jerusalem highlights the cost of following God's call. Yet, God's hand moved them to fulfill their calling. This illustrates that God's hand not only provides courage but also stirs our hearts to serve Him wholeheartedly, even when it requires sacrifice. [23:40]

4. The Word of God as a Conduit for His Hand: Ezra's dedication to studying, doing, and teaching God's word was the foundation for experiencing God's hand in his life. This emphasizes the importance of immersing ourselves in Scripture, allowing it to shape our lives and ministries. The hand of God will be on us when the word of God is in us. [28:06]

5. God's Goodness to Those Who Seek Him: Ezra's message to the king, that God's hand is for good on all who seek Him, is a powerful encouragement. It assures us that when we seek God earnestly, His hand will guide us for our ultimate good. This promise invites us to pursue a deeper relationship with God, confident in His goodness and grace. [32:12]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:15] - The Journey from Babylon
- [00:28] - Worship as a Priority
- [00:45] - Opposition and Delay
- [01:01] - God's Purpose Prevails
- [01:34] - Encouragement in Waiting
- [01:48] - Introduction to Ezra
- [02:04] - Ezra's Background
- [02:54] - Ezra's Role and Influence
- [05:07] - God's Work Through Influential People
- [06:21] - The Hand of God on Ezra
- [09:36] - Courage from God's Hand
- [15:08] - God's Hand Moves Us to Serve
- [27:07] - The Word of God and His Hand
- [29:30] - Encouragements from Ezra's Story

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Hand of God in the Book of Ezra

Bible Reading:
1. Ezra 7:6-10
2. Ezra 8:21-23
3. Deuteronomy 18:2

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Observation Questions:

1. What was Ezra's role and lineage, and how did it position him to influence the Persian administration? ([02:54])

2. How did the opposition affect the rebuilding of Jerusalem, and for how long was the work halted? ([00:45])

3. What recurring phrase does Ezra use to describe the source of his courage and success? ([06:21])

4. How did the Levites initially respond to the call to return to Jerusalem, and what changed their minds? ([16:12])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Ezra's confidence in God's hand upon him illustrate the relationship between faith and action? ([12:40])

2. In what ways does the story of the Levites' reluctance and eventual return highlight the cost and privilege of following God's call? ([19:02])

3. How does Ezra's dedication to studying, doing, and teaching God's word serve as a model for experiencing God's guidance in our lives? ([28:06])

4. What does the narrative suggest about the role of influential people in God's plans, and how might this apply to modern contexts? ([05:07])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's hand guiding you through a challenging situation. How did that experience shape your faith? ([01:34])

2. Are there areas in your life where you feel called to serve but are hesitant due to potential sacrifices? How can you seek God's guidance to overcome this reluctance? ([23:40])

3. How can you prioritize studying and applying God's word in your daily life to ensure His hand is upon you? What specific steps can you take this week? ([28:06])

4. Consider a situation where you need courage to act according to God's will. How can you remind yourself of God's presence and support in that moment? ([14:52])

5. In what ways can you be an influence for God's purposes in your current position or community? How can you be open to His calling, even if it requires stepping out of your comfort zone? ([06:07])

6. How can you encourage others in your community to seek God earnestly, trusting in His goodness and sovereign plans? ([32:12])

7. Reflect on the idea that God has delightful surprises in store for those who love Him. How can this perspective change the way you approach unexpected challenges or opportunities? ([38:02])

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting in God's Perfect Timing
God's plans are unstoppable, even amidst delays and opposition. The story of Ezra and the rebuilding of Jerusalem serves as a powerful reminder that God's timing is perfect. Despite the 16-year halt in construction due to opposition, God's purpose ultimately prevailed. This narrative encourages believers to remain hopeful and patient, even when prayers seem unanswered for long periods. Trusting in God's sovereignty means believing that He can move in unexpected ways, orchestrating events according to His divine plan. [01:34]

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you are experiencing a delay? How can you actively trust in God's timing and sovereignty in this situation today?


Day 2: Courage Through God's Presence
True courage stems from the assurance that God's hand is upon us. Ezra's boldness in approaching the king to request a policy reversal was rooted in his confidence that God was with him. This teaches us that when we face daunting tasks, we can find strength in the knowledge that God is guiding us. His presence affirms our actions and grants us favor, enabling us to act with courage and conviction. [12:40]

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you draw courage from the knowledge that God is with you in this moment?


Day 3: Serving God Wholeheartedly
God's hand not only provides courage but also moves us to serve Him wholeheartedly. The Levites' initial reluctance to return to Jerusalem highlights the cost of following God's call. Yet, they were moved by God's hand to fulfill their calling, illustrating that serving God often requires sacrifice. This encourages believers to respond to God's call with a willing heart, trusting that He will equip and sustain them in their service. [23:40]

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here I am! Send me.'" (Isaiah 6:8, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area where you feel God is calling you to serve? What steps can you take today to respond to this call, even if it requires sacrifice?


Day 4: The Transformative Power of God's Word
Ezra's dedication to studying, doing, and teaching God's word was foundational to experiencing God's hand in his life. Immersing ourselves in Scripture allows it to shape our lives and ministries. The hand of God will be on us when the word of God is in us, guiding and transforming us from the inside out. This emphasizes the importance of engaging deeply with God's word and allowing it to influence our actions and decisions. [28:06]

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more time for studying and meditating on God's word in your daily routine? What changes might you see in your life as a result?


Day 5: Experiencing God's Goodness
Ezra's message to the king, that God's hand is for good on all who seek Him, is a powerful encouragement. It assures believers that when they seek God earnestly, His hand will guide them for their ultimate good. This promise invites us to pursue a deeper relationship with God, confident in His goodness and grace. By seeking Him, we open ourselves to the delightful surprises He has in store for those who love Him. [32:12]

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's goodness in your life. How can you seek Him more earnestly today, trusting in His promise to guide you for your ultimate good?

Quotes

"Perhaps you've had an experience like this in your own life there was something that you prayed for and for a long time nothing seemed to happen, years passed and sometimes you felt that you would even give up hope, but then God moved in an unexpected way and suddenly everything changed. Now that is a normal pattern in Christian experience, you never know what God is about to do. Let that encourage you and sustain you when you're waiting a long time for an answer to your prayers." [00:01:05]

"Ezra was a priest and a scribe, you'll see at the beginning there of chapter 7 that he could trace his line of descent all the way back to Aaron the brother of Moses, and Aaron of course was the very first high priest. So Ezra was a priest and then we're told in verse six that he was a scribe, and scribes had the work of copying and interpreting the scriptures and here we're told that this man Ezra was particularly skilled in this work." [00:02:57]

"Ezra was a well-placed government official, and that is of course why he would have had access to speak directly to the king, and in the story of the return from exile, it's remarkable how often we find God working through people in positions of influence. Think for example about Daniel and the influence that he had in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar or Esther and the influence that she had in the court of Ahires, or here Ezra and his obvious influence in the administration of Artex Xerxes." [00:04:48]

"Ezra speaks about the hand of God no less than six times in this fairly short book. Let me just point out the references to you: chapter seven and verse six, the king granted Ezra all that he asked, and we may ask well why did he do that? Answer: for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. Or chapter 7 and verse 9, Ezra came to Jerusalem, and we may ask well, how did he manage that a big journey with many many people and many many dangers? He came to Jerusalem we're told for the good hand of his God was on him." [00:06:31]

"Ezra tells us how he did it he says I took courage for the hand of my God was on me. It was Ezra says as if God was standing right behind me with his own hand on my shoulder, affirming what I said, giving weight to my words giving me favor in the eyes of the king even as I spoke. And you know the apostle Paul had the same experience on another occasion in the New Testament he tells us about a time when he was brought to court on trial, and he says at my first defense no one came to stand with me he was all on his own, but then he says this, the Lord stood by me and strengthened me." [00:12:33]

"The hand of God moves us to serve. Now in the last verse of chapter 7, Ezra tells us about how after asking and receiving permission to lead a second return, he then gathers the people to go up with him, and chapter eight if you just look at that in your bible in front of you, you'll see that it begins again with a long list of names of the families who joined Ezra in the second return. They all gathered at the river that leads that runs to Ahava so there was a particular place where those who were ready to return with Ezra gathered." [00:15:15]

"Ezra records in verse 15 of chapter 8, as I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi. Now Levi of course was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and the Levites were all descended from him, and why were the Levites significant at this point in the story? Well very simply the Levites were called to vocational ministry, they were supported by the tithes of God's people, some of the Levites were priests and their particular calling was to lead worship, others and they were the majority were simply called to attend to first the tabernacle in the early part of the Old Testament and then later to the temple itself." [00:16:12]

"Ezra sent his leading men to a place called Cassafia no one knows exactly where that was but evidently there was a community of Levites that had settled there, and they went to this town with this very clear message chapter 8 and verse 17 of Ezra send us ministers for the house of our God, send us ministers for the house of our God, send us Levites who are ready to give themselves holy to the work of God without restraint and without reservation." [00:20:41]

"Ezra says it was by the good hand of God on us that they brought us the man of discernment that Sharabaya and other members of his family and with him Hashabaya and other members of his family uh all together 38 Levites who were moved to join the second return. Here are these Levites and they've been holding back on giving themselves fully to the calling that they knew God had on their lives, but in the end they came freely and they came willingly and Ezra says this is why because of the hand of God, the hand of God moved them to give themselves in service." [00:22:46]

"Ezra has been speaking about the hand of God being on him he's telling us the wonderful things that happened as a result of the hand of God being on him, and now he's telling us how it was that the hand of God was on it how did this come about the good hand of God was on Ezra because he had immersed himself in scripture, it set his heart to study the law of God and to do it and to teach it study do teach see study for this man was not an end in itself." [00:28:02]

"Ezra was given great courage we we might wonder well what in the world did he say well he tells us what he said to the king, and you can read it in chapter 8 and verse 32, we had told the king the hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him, and it's very clear that these words that Ezra spoke to the king carried weight in the king's heart, the hand of God was on Ezra as he spoke these words, and they affected the king deeply." [00:29:59]

"God accomplished great things through those who were faithful to him, and then I want to give you this third encouragement today, and it's this, that God has some delightful surprises in store. Now sometimes, um God hides blessings in very strange places and I want to end with what to me has really been a delightful discovery as I've been looking into these chapters uh this week, um for all of us it's very easy simply to pass over lists of names in the bible." [00:37:49]

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Transcript
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