Friday 22nd May
Read Ezra 8:15-23
“I assembled them at the canal that flows towards Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 men in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants – a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, ‘The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.’ 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” (NIVUK)
The personal narrative continues and we are blessed to have such insight into the thoughts of a godly leader. The pause by the river allowed a stocktaking to occur and the absence of Levites to be rectified. A challenging situation requiring diplomacy – after all there were likely many good reasons that the Levites were not initially willing to uproot their lives for a life of temple service. The successful conclusion is attributed to God’s grace.
This grace was called upon again when the question of safe passage across the desert arose. It would be tempting to see this as an example of faith that we should emulate when we are faced with similar decisions. However this would make it challenging not to read Nehemiah’s acceptance of a military escort on his journey across the desert as unfaithful! Alternately you could simply see both responses as a reflection of godly leaders relying upon God’s provision and protection. Could the circumstances simply reflect the wisest way to increase the faith of those around them?
How do our decisions, personal though they may be, work to build up the faith of those around us?
