Possibility 2

10-07-13

Ezra 8.22-23 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. ESV

Ezra was a smart guy – he knew he’d painted himself into a corner and now when it looked like he had to choose between embarrassment and God, he chose God. Ezra was so smart, he fasted and prayed and implored God for safety on his journey from Persia to Jerusalem. Smart.

The humanness of Scripture, if nothing else, shows the transparency of faith; and the situations that the saints of old found themselves in when their boasts held their feet to the fires of faith reveal a choosing. It is one thing to say you believe; it is another to believe. Ezra believed.

It’s probable that Ezra had been offered a military escort from the king. It’s probable, but it’s reality, by his own confession, that he politely refused and proclaimed: That’s okay, your highness, God will take care of us. It’s possible that second thoughts came into play at some point because the narrative plainly states: For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way… Ezra seemed to look up and saw that the only way out was either walk through the paint, or trust God for a solution. Prayer and fasting make a good solution when our boasting makes us feel silly and stupid.

Another thing that happens is God removes our safety nets of resources, helpers, and the like and we find ourselves facing two possibilities: failure on our own or success by faith. Failure seems easy and very present. Faith requires much more from us because others are watching what we’ll do when it looks like we’re going to fail miserably.

God wasn’t surprised by Ezra’s predicament nor is He surprised by ours. God is loving and faithful and provides a way for His children to get out of a jam by causing them to walk in trust.

In today’s “Coffee with Jesus” Ann asks Jesus: Is worry a sin, Jesus? Jesus replies: Don’t you trust me, Ann? She comes back with: I know I’m supposed to, Jesus…but… To which Jesus replies: It’s not a sin, Ann. It’s just a shame. Ezra, I think, was feeling the pain of shame. So he did what he knew he should do, he prayed for God to cover his back… and God did.

One possibility is to live such a carefully guarded life that one never finds himself painted into a corner. The other would be to risk looking ridiculous (feeling ashamed) but praying to God for a way out that glorifies Him. I think God likes possibility 2: trust Him even if it means looking stupid.

Lord, I believe You reward those who appear foolishly faithful and always provide them a way out. Help me to live a life of faithful risk that includes trusting You even when I appear to others to be foolhardy. Regardless of faith or failure You are pleased with the ones who trust You no matter what… Amen.