The road to Jerusalem: “a place to depend on God not hedge our bets”
Ezra 8:23
SàSo we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.
HàEzra makes a claim to the king of Babylon that Ezra’s God would protect them along their journey back to Jerusalem. The king of Babylon still offers them soldiers and protection along their travel; almost like a hedge on the bet for God’s protection. Ezra, refuses the offer and explains that for him to take the kings offer would be like saying he really didn’t believe in God’s ability to protect them. So Ezra refuses the offer and then they fasted and earnestly prayed for God to take care of them trusting that God would hear their prayer.
AàHow often do I hedge my bets when it comes to God? How often do I make a statement of faith and then begin to think of ways to adjust when that statement of faith doesn’t work out to be true? How often do I accept the king of babylon’s offer for the world’s protection just in case God’s isn’t enough? Far too often I am ashamed to admit. What a great reminder for me today that I am called to be a child of the living God and that He will protect me along my way to Jerusalem. I don’t need protection from the world; I have protection from God. Instead of finding ways to hedge my bets I need to be the kind of disciple that prays and fasts for God to take care of us along the journey and to bring us into Jerusalem safely in the same way He did with Ezra.
PàLord, I am so sorry for the ways in which I speak out of both sides of my mouth. Forgive me for taking a leap of faith and at the same time thinking of ways to recover in case that leap doesn’t work. Give me the grace and strength to walk in the footsteps of Ezra and be a follower that refuses the offer of Babylon and trust in your protection for the journey. Give me the faith to stand up and proclaim your promise to protect us on the journey and to lead us to Jerusalem. I thank you for the reminder and your promise in my life today. Amen.
EàThrough Jesus I can walk in the footsteps of Ezra and depend on God and God alone during my journey to Jerusalem.
chadpullins@connect2crossroads.com
