TUESDAY, 26 January, 2021 “Holy Voyage”

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Good Tuesday morning to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends around the world.

Have you ever taken a long journey, carrying with you valuables which have been entrusted to you, to bring to a far away destination? Did you feel a heavy weight of responsibility? To what extreme did you go to protect that which you carried on your long trip?

Today we’re in Ezra 8 and we’re joining Mr. Ezra in his preparations for a long trip of several hundred miles going from Babylon to Jerusalem. This is no ordinary trip, for the most powerful man in the world, King Artaxerxes, has personally selected and commissioned Ezra for this mission. The king had entrusted to Ezra a significant treasure of silver and gold to be delivered to Jerusalem, along with a commission to teach the laws of God to the people of Jerusalem, and then select wise judges and magistrates to govern the people there, and finally to teach the people how to live God honoring lives, according to the laws of God! I’ve compared it to what President Biden is doing these days as he selects and commissions his Cabinet, foreign ambassadors, the new US Ambassador to the UN, and much more.

Ezra 8 begins with a record of some of the people who accompanied Ezra on this amazing voyage. Beginning in verse 15 we see specific preparations Ezra made for this very unusual journey. Do you see in doing a roll call of those who wanted to accompany him, Ezra found there were no Levites! These were special spiritual leaders for the people of Israel, and they had both a special family heritage in the tribe of Levi, but they also had special responsibilities in the culture and worship of Israel. Ezra felt strongly some Levites needed to be among the large group of people traveling to Jerusalem, especially for two reasons: First, safekeeping of the treasure of artifacts, silver and gold the king had entrusted to them, and second, their mission of teaching the people and selecting wise leaders when they arrived in Jerusalem. Levites would be men of great integrity whom he should be able to trust in both these responsibilities.

Please notice in verse 18 this phrase: “Because the gracious hand of our God was on us…”. My friends, do you live each day in the promise and truth of Psalm 139? Are you confident that no matter what is happening in your life, no matter where you are on the face of this planet, God knows EVERYTHING about what is going on in your life and is watching over you? Do you regularly stop and take note of the tangible, practical evidence that God’s hand is upon you? Do you give God glory for that, and do you even draw the attention of your family or friends to HOW you see this reality in your life?

Now please notice why this was so important for Ezra. Look at verse 21 “There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us, our children, and all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, ‘The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.’ So we fasted and petitioned our God about this and He answered our prayer.”

As we consider all the rapid changes happening as a result of the change of government in America in the past six days, can you imagine how many thousands of people are starting new jobs, relocating from one place to another, learning new protocols, new security codes etc. In some ways that’s what was happening here. King Artaxerxes had personally selected and commissioned Ezra to lead this expedition and entrusted him with great valuables, and a very strategic, important assignment, once they reached Jerusalem. But that was probably more than 700 miles away by the route they likely took, and all along there would be bandits and others scheming to attack, overpower, and either rob or kill, so this caravan would never arrive in Jerusalem. Wisdom, of course, would require an armed, mounted escort of the Kings’ soldiers, but this was an opportunity for FAITH in God, and obedience to God’s leading to be evidenced. I wonder what you would have done if you were Ezra?

Do you see in verse 28 the treasure the king had entrusted to them was not simply gold and silver. Ezra challenged the Levites and others with these important words: “You, as well as these articles, are consecrated to the LORD, the God of your fathers. Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem…” This was a sacred journey, on a sacred mission. I wonder if they thoughts of the Levites of old who cared for and carried the Tabernacle and sacred artifacts such as the Ark of the Covenant, the Golden Lampstands, the Altar of Incense, the Table of Shewbread and all the other sacred artifacts that Moses had consecrated, as they moved from place to place in the dessert? This was a high and holy privilege. May I ask, do you view any part of your life as a high and holy privilege? May I suggest everything God entrusts you to do, is a high and holy privilege… think about that a moment.

We understand this was a journey on foot, with carts ladened with belongings. Animals and children scurried about, and the elderly would have requested frequent stops for rest. As a result, it took 4 months for this trip according to Ezra 7:9! God did protect them. He did provide food and water, and after they arrived in Jerusalem they rested for three days, giving thanks. Then came the very special moment we see in verse 33 “On the fourth day, in the house of God (Temple) we weighed out the silver and gold and sacred articles into the hands of the priests…Everything was accounted for by number and weight…”.

Oh my what a glorious moment! These things had been in Babylon for over 150 years, now being returned to the Temple of God in Jerusalem. Go ahead, watch with wonder as each sacred artifact is carefully unwrapped, held up for all to see and raised up in thanksgiving and consecration to God, before being set down on the table, and another artifact unwrapped! What a glorious day that must have been. Do you see it was followed by a great celebration of thanksgiving to God for His protection, His provision and His Sovereignty over all! (Ezra 8:35)

Finally, this closing verse of chapter 8 “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.” (Ezra 8:36) You’ll remember King Artaxerxes had sent royal letters with his inscription, sealed by his royal seal, that instructed the officials in this part of his empire to learn from Ezra, listen to Ezra and follow Ezra’s lead in bringing the law and order of God to this region.

Oh my, what a global impact would occur this week if the new officials sent out from Washington DC were taking official letters from a new President that all global offices and employees representing the USA were to function according to the values, and principles and Word of God! As we’ll see tomorrow, Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem with these instructions from the king began immediately to bring integrity and honor to a place which had been embroiled in gossip, backbiting, slander, and conflict of every kind.

So today, I’m asking you to pray… while you and I may not be sent out by President Biden, if you have trusted Jesus Christ to be your Savior, you have a far more important role in our world. You and I have a high and holy calling to be an Ambassador of Jesus Christ! 2 Corinthians 5:17-20 is our commissioning! “Therefore if anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. The old has gone and the new has come. All this is from God who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…We are Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal [to the world] through us!”

Now, just ponder what a high and holy calling that is my friends! Here’s a powerful song to help us ponder this remarkable privilege, this great challenge of living today as an Ambassador of Jesus Christ!

Today’s Scripture is Ezra 8.

Choose below to read or listen.

Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.

Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.

Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)

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