January 8,2011

Ezra 8

When I moved from North Carolina to Oklahoma, I took my van to my mechanic and had it serviced. I told him that I was making a trip to Oklahoma. “Please flush and fill the radiator. Check for any potential problems.” Twelve hours into our journey, I was approaching a rest area on I-40. Suddenly, my hot engine light turned on. Just in the nick of time, I merged over into the exit lane and pulled into the rest stop. My radiator was dry. Apparently the mechanic who serviced my van failed to retighten the radiator hose appropriately. I tightened it the best I could, refilled the radiator with water from the rest stop and continued on my journey. No harm done. But what would have happened had it boiled dry a few miles later or a few miles earlier? I would have been on the side of the road perhaps without access to water. The good hand of my God was upon me. The timing could not have been better.

Ezra was making a journey of approximately the same distance. Only his vehicles were wagons. His powers were mules, oxen, camels. His dangers were not mechanical failure but pirates. Often caravans would have armed escorts to protect them. Apparently Ezra had been bragging about his God. He was ashamed to ask for an escort. He threw himself upon the mercy of God. And God provided all the protection he needed. That is the glory of our Lord. We can trust in His protection as long as we are doing His will. Even if we die, it is only to accomplish the best for His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!

--Pastor john