Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Nov 13 2019 - Ezra 8:1, 15-36 – Ezra's return

Ezra chapters 7 and 8 may seem to be a bit back-to-front. In Ezra 7 we read of Ezra's arrival in Jerusalem with his letter from King Artaxerxes. In today's chapter, the story backtracks to provide the details of Ezra's journey from Persia.

In today's reading we have skipped over the list of family names in verses 2-14 along with the numbers returning with those family heads – a great number of people. We have picked up the story where they have gathered in a camp by the "canal that flows towards Ahava" in preparation for their journey. When Ezra checked out who had arrived he found that there were no Levites, so he sent for a great number more to join them (vv. 16-20). Then, when all had assembled in their transit-camp, Ezra proclaimed a day of fasting and prayer. The people were to humble themselves before God, asking forgiveness for the sins that had led to the exile and to pray for "a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions" (v. 21). Ezra had not asked the king of Persia for soldiers to guard the travellers because he had told the king that their God would protect them.

Ezra divided between twelve men the gold and silver given them by the king, entrusting it to their care during the journey and charging them to bring it safely "to the house of our God in Jerusalem" (vv. 24-30).

So they set out on their long trek to Jerusalem. And their prayers were answered; Ezra records, "The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way. So we arrived in Jerusalem, where we rested three days" (vv. 31-32). After their rest, they offered sacrifices in the temple, giving thanks to God for a safe journey. "They also delivered the king’s orders to the royal satraps and to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, who then gave assistance to the people and to the house of God" (v. 36).

It is now that Ezra's work must really begin.

From this chapter I want us to take note of the way that trust in God and careful planning and organisation go hand-in-hand. Ezra's faith is seen in his confidence that the Lord his God would watch over him and protect him and his companions on their journey. It finds expression also in his insistence upon prayer, seeking God's blessing on their enterprise. But Ezra was also meticulous in his preparations. He set up the transit-camp for people to gather together before the journey and was careful to check who had arrived and to send for those who were missing before they set off. He was careful to distribute the gold and silver they were taking with them between twelve men so that if they were attacked, they were unlikely to lose everything. He was a careful planner.

This chapter reminds us of the need for us both to trust God in every part of our lives but also to plan and prepare carefully for the things that we do. It is said that Oliver Cromwell told his troops to "Trust in God and keep your powder [i.e. gunpowder] dry". Trusting in God was not to be a substitute for careful action and concern on the part of the troops. God wants a people whose lives are marked by both piety and practicality. What does this mean for the things that the Lord has laid on your heart to do for him? Do them in a humble spirit and with heartfelt prayer for the Lord's help in all you do. Do it also with careful consideration and attention to all that is required to bring it to a successful conclusion. And when you have managed to complete some work for God, don't forget to give thanks to him for enabling you to do it.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the way in which you equipped Ezra with the skills and character necessary for doing the work you had for him to do. Thank you that you watched over him and kept him and his companions safe on what could have proved a dangerous journey. Help us to know the work that you have for us to do and to do it both diligently and prayerfully. And may you get all the glory and praise.

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Nov 13 2020 - John 8:31-59 – The truth will set you free

Jesus offended the Jews when he told them that they needed to be set free. They considered themselves freeborn children of Abraham; they had never been enslaved to anyone. They seem to have forgotten their own history. They call themselves children of Abraham but had forgotten that their ancestors were enslaved and oppressed in Egypt. They had forgotten that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who came down to rescue them from slavery and lead them out into freedom. They cannot see that, in Jesus, this is what God is doing again. Instead they deny the very slavery from which they need to be freed.

Jesus responds by saying, “Everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). No matter their parentage or religious credentials, they remain enslaved by sin and on their way to death. Jesus alone can provide freedom from such slavery. Not only can he break the chains of sin, he is able also to conquer death – “Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps my word he will never see death” (8:51).

His listeners responded by asking, “Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” (8:53). Jesus replied, “Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). This provoked a scornful response from the Jewish leaders, "You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham!" But Jesus does not back down; rather, he makes the even more outrageous claim, "Before Abraham was, I am!"

What did Jesus mean by saying that Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing his day, and saw it? God promised Abraham a son and that his descendants would be as countless as the stars in the heavens. He also promised him that all nations on earth would be blessed through him – through his son; through his descendants.

It seemed to Abraham quite impossible that these promises would be fulfilled for he and his wife, Sarah, were old and beyond hope of having children. Yet Abraham trusted God with whom nothing is impossible; he rejoiced in the prospect of receiving a son as the gift of God. Not only did he rejoice in the prospect, he saw this first promise fulfilled; he and Sarah had a son, Isaac – the one who turned the hoped for joy into the laughter of realised blessing. In this son, Abraham saw the future fulfilment of all of the promises of God.

Jesus is claiming that he is the one in whom all these promises find their fulfilment. More than that, he is the fulfilment of these promises because he is the God of Abraham; he is the great “I am” come down to set his people free.

Let’s be honest with ourselves, we all have flaws of character (we hesitate to call them ‘sins’) which hold us captive, which prevent us being the kinds of people that God created us to be. All too often we are resigned to go on living with them; “That’s just the way I am” we tell ourselves – which amounts to an admission of enslavement. We have given up on the hope of freedom now; we hope for freedom only with death. Yet Jesus promises freedom now, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Lord Jesus, you are the truth that sets us free from all that would enslave us. It is for freedom that you have set me free. Captivate me with your love. Help me to stand firm and strong in you and not be burdened again by any enslaving habit or practice. Help me to live by the liberating power of your Spirit and to keep in step with your Spirit. Lead me out of slavery and into freedom.

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Peter Misselbrook