1. Lesson 8 The Hand of God

2. Ezra 8:9 The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty. Ezra 8:22-23

3. …A large number of men women and children. ….on a desert journey ….through an area known to wild bands of marauders …with a large amount of valuable property Ezra 8 – The Situation vs. 1-14

4. 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “ The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty. Ezra 8 – The Solution vs. 21-23

5. The obvious solution – ask the King for an escort. not a matter of morality/ethics an expression of trust in man an expedient answer The right solution – ask God for help not a matter of morality/ethics an expression of trust in God a time-delaying solution Ezra 8 – The Solution vs. 21-23

6. 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “ The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him." 23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty. Ezra 8 – The Solution vs. 21-23

7. A source of unity – II Chronicles 30:12 A storehouse for righteous men – Ecclesiastes 9:1 A place of humility – I Peter 5:6 An instrument of judgement – I Samuel 15:11 Ezra 8:22 – The Hand of God " The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him."

8. It’s not what you do or say but who you are that moves the hand of God! Ezra 8:22 – The Hand of God " The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him."

9. No Levites volunteered to go! vs. 15 Eleven men were selected and sent. vs16 To the right place (Casiphia) To the right person (Iddo) For the right reason With a positive result! Ezra 8:15 – The Priestly Problem “ Now I assembled them at the river that runs to Ahava, where we camped for three days; and when I observed the people and the priests, I did not find any Levites there.”

10. Ezra 8:28,29 – The Priestly Task 28 “You are holy to the L ORD, and the utensils are holy; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the L ORD God of your fathers. 29 "Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leading priests, the Levites, and the heads of the fathers' households of Israel at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the L ORD." Ezra 8:28-29

11. O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-- 1 Tim 6:20 Ezra 8:28,29 – The Priestly Task “Watch and keep them until you weigh them”

12. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you. 2 Tim 1:14 (NASB77) Ezra 8:28,29 – The Priestly Task “Watch and keep them until you weigh them”

13. “Nothing you have is half as much as who you are.” Ezra 8:28,29 – The Priestly Task “Watch and keep them until you weigh them” Your trust, your obedience,our faithfulness……. What you carry with you when your hands are empty.

14. Nothing is more valuable than the gospel. Ezra 8:28,29 – The Priestly Task “Watch and keep them until you weigh them” You may be the only “gospel” someone ever sees!

15. Will you…. Live, when the challenge comes, by the maxims you proclaimed when no cost was required. Beware of making your relationships a matter of words. Periodically look at your life from the perspective of an unsaved man/woman. Watch and keep what has been entrusted to you until we reach Jerusalem! Ezra 8:23 – The Bottom Line