SCRIPTURE
"The gracious hand of his God was on him, because Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel." (Ezra 7:9-10)
OBSERVATION
God's people had disobeyed and, as he warned, they were taken out of the Promised Land into captivity in a foreign land. After a period of captivity, Ezra returned to Jerusalem to help rebuild the temple and reinstitute its worship. In this verse, and surrounding passage, Ezra had success in his request to return to Jerusalem because God's hand was on him. The Bible often speaks of God's hand. When it is "on" someone it evokes an image of help, strength and support that leads to accomplishment of his purposes. However, when his hand is against someone there is the idea of pushing back or frustration of plans that do not come to fruition. Ultimately God's hand, whether on or against, determines the outcome of someone's undertaking. As a scribe, Ezra was a teacher and leader. God's hand was with him not just because he studied and taught the law of the Lord, but because he obeyed. He didn't just know and and teach it, he lived it. They were not empty words but they were words backed up by his life.
APPLICATION
I think the key to Ezra's success was his obedience to God. For God's hand to be on me I need to do more than know and teach God's word, I need to obey. It's rather easy to study and it's easy to tell someone else about God's word. The challenge comes in obedience. This is where the word moves from my head to my heart and is expressed in my actions. Throughout the Bible the people who really made a difference were the people who obeyed God. It starts with a decision. Ezra "determined in his heart" to study, obey, and teach. I want to make a difference by living what I'm learning.
PRAYER
Lord, I want to do more than study and teach your word, but have it shape my life so I'm walking and living what I'm teaching.
