“…Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.”
When I was kid, my brother and I had dreams of making a go-cart. We tore apart an old law mower and looked at the engine. We sat down and made drawings on how our go-cart was going to look, dreaming of riding it. Those dreams sat dormant for a while until we got word a friend of the family was going help us weld a frame together and help with finishing the job. With new found vigor, we rushed and did all we could to gather whatever he needed. Without this new help we both knew the go-cart dream was not going to happen, but with it we could actually taste riding it down the street.
When the Israelites came back to Jerusalem they were given a decree from the king of Persia to rebuild the temple. The King of Persia would give them whatever they needed and if they needed more it was to be paid with King’s own treasury. They ran into some opposition with their neighbors but that was set straight by finding the original decree from King Darius of Persia that spelled everything out.
Ezra was a high priest and teacher of the law of Moses. He was sent by the King of Persia with all the provisions needed to finish the temple. Our verse today comes after King Artaxerxes makes another decree capitalizing on first decree by Darius. In it he says in verse 23, “Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his son’s?” It sounds like Ezra may have told him what happened to Egypt back in the day. With this new found favor from the King, Ezra takes courage and gathers leaders from Israel to make the journey back to Jerusalem.
Ezra had the hand of God on his life as he took courage and gathered the leaders. Today, you might be in the place where the Lord has put his hand of favor on you. You got a breakthrough or a raise or some relationships might have been restored after years of turmoil and strife. The first thing to recognize is that God is working even though you do not see it. The next thing is to take courage. Similarly, Joshua was told by God that everywhere he put his foot was to be given to him when they entered the promised land. Then he had to go stepping. Joshua had to step out on the promise of the Lord and take courage that He is working and start gathering. The work will not finish itself.
Father thank you for putting your hand of favor on my life and on my family’s lives. I will take courage, begin to gather, and stand on all the promises you have said in your word. I believe what your word says and today my faith is strengthened in you. We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Let It Go 
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