Hand of God

I was reading Ezra, and struck by a particular verse that spoke fo the ‘gracious hand of the Lord’ being on Ezra.

What a great phrase that is - and what a great thing to have! The gracious hand of the Lord upon us.

Of course today, we experince the ‘gracious hand of God’ upon us as Christians through Jesus.

Normally in the OT the hand of the Lord

was either one of judgement,

or implied that God would put his hand upon someone to bring about his will.

But in Ezra, it I havne’t studied it fully,

But here is what I found intriguing in Ezra.

Ezra 7:8–10 NIV - Anglicised

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

Ezr 7v8-10

It seems as if Ezra had earnt - or showed himself worthy of -

the ‘gracious hand of God’ through studying God’s word,

obeying God’s word and teaching God’s word.

What a great reminder to our role in NT times as elders.

We are in part echo the role of OT prophets.

1 - We need God’s gracious hand upon us as we carry out his plans

2 - So we ought to also present ourselves worthy of his hand through :study, observance and teaching the word.

The other time this phrase comes up is while Ezra reports about their joureny from Babylon to Jeruslam

Ezra 8:21–23 NIV - Anglicised

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. 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.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

ezr 8 21-

What an extraordinary verse. I’m not even sure what to do with this today.

But surely if nothing else

- it reminds us to trust soely in the gracious hand of God,

Which we show ourselves worthy of through study, obedience and teaching.

And call upon and access through humble and sacrificial prayer.

GCWP needs the ‘gracious hand of God’ to move forward.

Let us be humble, prayerful and word’ful men.

Pray now

2 Chronicles 30:12 NIV - Anglicised

Also in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.

Of course today, we experience the ‘gracious hand of God’ upon us as Christians through Jesus.

2 chr 12