The last chapter of 2 Chronicles summarizes the conditions in Judah right before the book of Ezra: “All the leaders of the priests and the people became more and more unfaithful, following all the detestable practices of the nations and defiling the temple…. The Lord… sent word to them through his messengers again and again, …. But they mocked God’s messengers, despised his words and scoffed at his prophets until the wrath of the Lord was aroused against his people and there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:14-16).
The Lord had been incredibly patient for hundreds of years, but the time for judgment and exile had come. God raised up the Babylonian empire, who destroyed the nation of Israel, including Jerusalem and God’s temple, and brought the people to a foreign land. About 50 years later, some exiles returned to their homeland to rebuild. After the temple was rebuilt, Ezra, a priest and teacher of the Law of Moses, together with more exiles, started the journey home. The book of Ezra shows us the way forward after we have fallen and experienced the consequences of turning away from God’s ways.
Walk in humility before God.
Humility is thinking about ourselves accurately, recognizing that without God we can do nothing.
Get desperate for God’s presence.
The journey Ezra and the exiles were about to undertake on their way home was not for the faint of heart. The king of Persia offered to send his soldiers to protect them on the journey, but Ezra refused the protection of the king’s soldiers. God’s response: The “hand of God” was with Ezra and the returnees (Ezra 7:9; 8:22, 31-32).
Fasting helps us realize our need for God’s presence. Fasting causes us to realize how fragile we are, how reliant on our Creator and Sustainer.
See opposition as an opportunity for humility.
The Israelites faced a lot of opposition. When they start rebuilding the temple, the peoples around them forced them to shut down construction, so the Israelites waited for a word from God. He moved the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to encourage the people to start the work again, and they did. The King of Persia paid for the work and punished anyone who tried to stop the work.
When Ezra found out about the problem of the intermarriages, he humbled himself before God (chapter 9), and prayed a prayer of confession on behalf of the people. As he was praying, God moved in the hearts of the people, and they wept and confessed their sin.
See opposition, met with humility, lead to victory.
Let opposition be an opportunity to humble yourself before God, to boldly follow as He leads, and to see His mighty power at work in your midst.
Reckon with God’s wrath.
Ezra and the Israelites reckoned with God’s wrath, and that kept them on the level path. In the final judgment, God’s wrath will be poured out and do away with all evil, once and for all. God’s wrath is aroused at our rebellious deeds, words and thoughts. Pride says, “I know better than God.” Pride rejects Gods Word, and says, I can stand before God on my own merit. Humility says, “I have sinned and am in need of a Saviour.”
Jesus took the wrath of God upon himself in our place. He was pierced for our transgressions; His punishment brought us peace. The question is, where will God’s wrath fall? On us — or on Christ? When we humble ourselves before Him and receive his sacrifice and forgiveness, we no longer need to fear his wrath.