The Missing Ingredient.

“Ezra … arrived at Jerusalem on August 4, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. This was because Ezra had determined to study and obey the Law of the Lord and to teach those decrees and regulations to the people of Israel.” – Ezra 7:9-10 NLT

God had miraculously arranged for the people to be given a royal decree, not only allowing them to return to Jerusalem to rebuilt the Temple and restore Jerusalem, but He had made sure they had the resources necessary to complete the task. They had all the material needed to build, the people to do the work, and God had take care of the constant harrassment of their enemies. But one thing was missing. They had plenty of people, gold, silver, wood, and hours in the day to accomplish the work. But God knew that without His Law, they would end up right back in the same condition that resulted in their captivity in the first place. So God raised up Ezra, “a scribe who was well-versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel, had given to the people of Israel” (Ezra 7:6 NLT). As a Scribe, Ezra was intimately familiar with the Law of Moses, given by God to the people of Israel back on Mount Sinai. A span of 58 years will take place after the events recorded in chapter six end and Ezra arrives in Jerusalem from Babylon in chapter seven. It has been 80 years since the first wave of exiles returned. God has been watching and waiting. He has been raising up the right man to bring the one ingredient the nation needed most. Ezra would not have even been born with the first exiles returned. Ezra was a direct descendant of Aaron, the high priest. He had a spiritual heritage and a godly upbringing that made him perfect for the job for which God assigned him.

The Persian king, Artaxerxes, issued a royal decree commissioning Ezra to go to Jerusalem and conduct an official inquiry into the situation there “based on your God’s law, which is in your hand” (Ezra 7:14 NLT). This pagan king officially ordered Ezra “to use the wisdom your God has given you to appoint magistrates and judges who know your God’s laws to given all the people of in the province west of the Euphrates River. Teach the law to anyone who does not know it. Anyone who refuses to obey the law of your God and the law of the king will be punished immediately, either by death, banishment, confiscation or goods, or imprisonment” (Ezra 7:26 NLT). Once again, God had sovereignly ordained His will to be done through the power and position of an ungodly king. This monarch effectively gave Ezra the authority to conduct a spiritual revival in the land of Israel.

Knowing he was being sent by God didn’t prevent Ezra from praying for God’s hand of mercy and protection as they made the journey home. He called a fast and ordered the people to humble themselves before God, praying for safe journey and protection along the way. They were carrying large amounts of gold and silver, and were traveling a very long distance through potentially dangerous conditions accompanied by women and children. Ezra had refused to request an armed escort from the king, but had chosen to trust God instead. So after prayerful preparation, they set off. It would be four months before they arrived in Jerusalem. But they arrived unharmed with every ounce of silver and gold accounted for. Ezra acknowledged that it was God who had protected them along the way, saving them from their enemies and bandits along the way. They celebrated their safe arrival with sacrifices. Then the real work began. The law of God had to be given and the applied. It was not going to be easy. But it was necessary.

Father, how often we leave out the key ingredient for our own success. We take on all kinds of responsibilities and tackle all kinds of task without consulting Your Word and asking about Your will in the matter. The people of God were doing the will of God, but had neglected the law of God. As a result, they were doing God-ordained tasks all the while they were living in open disobedience to Your revealed will. Forgive us for doing the same thing today. Never let us neglect Your Word and attempt to do Your will our way. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

God Is Watching.

“But because their God was watching over them, the leaders of the Jews were not prevented from building until a report was sent to Darius and he returned his decision.” – Ezra 5:5 NLT

There are times in life when it appears as if God is not around. Because of our circumstances, we assume that He must be busy someplace else or is simply unaware of what is going on in our life at the moment. But that is not the God of the Bible. He is never distracted, disinterested or distant. He is always there, always watching, and always complete aware of what is going on — every single moment of every single day. The people of God who had returned to build the Temple and restore Jerusalem were going to learn that. Things did not go well for them upon their return. They faced opposition and constant threats from the various people groups who had moved into the land when it was vacated after the Jews had been exiled to Babylon. At one point they had had to halt construction because of a royal edict. But when they started back up again, their enemies were quick to stir up trouble again. It would have been easy for them to assume that God was not there or that He was unaware of their situation. But nothing could have been further from the truth. We cannot judge the faithfulness or nearness of God based on our circumstances. We read in verse five that “their God was watching over them.” He had not taken His eyes or His hands off of them, even though it may have appeared that way from their perspective. He was there and He cared. He was still in control. And in spite of all the attempts of their enemies to stir up trouble, God had other plans. When letters were written to King Darius back in Persia, asking him to put an official stop to the construction once and for all, they were expecting another royal decree to be issued commanding the Jews to cease and desist in their rebuilding efforts. But to their shock and surprise, the message they received from Darius contained an official edict to “let the Temple be rebuilt” (Ezra 6:3). Not only that, the very men who had attempted to thwart the efforts of the Jews to rebuild the Temple and reconstruct the walls of Jerusalem, were commanded to HELP. “Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the word will not be interrupted” (Ezra 6:8 NLT).

What a God we serve. He not only was fully aware of what was going on, but He had a plan to use the plans of these enemies of Israel to accomplish His will. He turned what they meant for evil into good. The Jews received funding they never would have dreamed of from a source they never could have imagined — the very people who had been trying to put a stop to their efforts. It would have natural for them to take a look at their circumstances and assume that God had abandoned them, or that He was somehow punishing them. But they would have been wrong. God was working behind the scenes in ways they could never have imagined. Assuming God’s absence or indifference is a dangerous thing to do. It is no less than doubting the faithfulness of God and rejecting the promises found in the Word of God. God is constantly faithful. He is ever-present. His faithful love endures forever. We must judge God based on His Word and His character, not our circumstances. What is visible is not always an accurate indicator of what is going on. God ‘s efforts are not always visible to our eyes or apparent to our senses, but that does not mean He is silent or still. Our God is always watching out for us and working on behalf of us, whether we see it or believe it. He is there.

Father, thanks for reminding me yet again of Your faithfulness and dependability. I confess that I too often judge You based only on what I can see happening around me. I sometimes let my circumstances dictate Your presence and limit Your power. But You are always there, working behind the scenes in ways that I can’t see. Never let me forget that. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Distraction. Discouragement. Delay.

“When this letter from King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum, Shimshai, and their colleagues, they hurried to Jerusalem. Then, with a show of strength, they forced the Jews to stop building.” – Ezra 4:23 NLT

The people were being faithful. They were offering sacrifices to God and had already rebuilt the foundation of the Temple. So why in the world would God allow them to undergo the constant harassment they endured at the hands of their enemies? From the moment they arrived in the land, they were under a daily barrage of verbal attacks. They were libeled, slandered, and falsely accused by their enemies. And who were these enemies? When the Assyrians had taken the northern kingdom of Israel captive, they had encouraged their own people to move to the land and settle there. In time these people had intermarried with the remaining Jews. They worshiped Assyrian gods, but also worshiped Yahweh, because they viewed Him as the God of the land. This mixed race of people became known as the Samaritans, a group that was still despised by the people of Israel at the time of Christ. The Jews viewed them as half-breeds and traitors. And here they were causing daily consternation for the people of God as they attempted to follow the will of God by rebuilding the Temple.

After a letter-writing campaign to King Artaxerxes, the enemies of the Jews finally got their wish. They convinced the king that the Jews were a threat to his kingdom and if he let them continue rebuilding the city of Jerusalem, the Jews would rebel against him. So Artaxerxes gave them the royal authority to force the Jews to stop building. Work would not continue in earnest for another 16 years. So why the delay? Why were the Jews seemingly thwarted in their attempt to remain faithful to God? It is easy to sit on this side of the story and question why the people did not persevere and simply continue to build in the face of opposition. But they were greatly outnumbered and ill-equipped to stand against their enemies. This was a time of great discouragement and disillusionment. The people of God had to feel confused by the events surrounding them. They had to question whether God was in control. They had to wonder whether they should have ever returned. Setbacks and standstills are common in our spiritual journeys. We should not be surprised by them, but instead, we need to learn to expect them and push through them. God was not done yet, and because He is sovereign and all-knowing, He was fully aware of the opposition and the pressure put on the Jews to give up on their God-given task. We will face opposition as well. We will be tempted to throw in the towel when the going gets tough. But we have to remember that God is with us. He will not leave us or forsake us. The rebuilding did begin again. After a delay, the people once again took up the task of completing God’s Temple. God was still in control. Distraction, discouragement and delays are inevitable. But in the end, God’s will always wins out.

Father, You are there even when things look bleak. You are there even when the opposition seems too strong for us. When we face delays in our spiritual journey, it is easy for us to lose hope and give up. But never let us lose sight of Your constant presence. Never let us be surprised when we face opposition. It is part of the process. It is par for the course. But You never stop working. You never get distracted or discouraged. You are always there, behind the scenes, fulfilling Your will in Your way, and in Your perfect timing. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Godly Living Is Not The Easy Life.

“Even though the people were afraid of the local residents, they rebuilt the altar at its old sight. Then they began to sacrifice burnt offerings on the altar to the Lord each morning and evening.” – Ezra 3:3 NLT

Living godly in a godless world is not easy. Attempting to conduct your life according to God’s will while surrounded by those who oppose you is guaranteed to be difficult and, sometimes, impossible. The people of God had been allowed to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the Temple. When they arrived they found their land occupied by foreigners, people who had been relocated to Israel when the Assyrians conquered the Israelites and took them captive. These people had migrated down into the south and taken up residence in Judah while the people were in exile in Babylon. So when the people of God returned to Jerusalem, they found themselves surrounded by enemies who were opposed to their presence and would do anything to prevent their relocation and rebuilding attempts from being successful.

But the first thing the people of God did was build an altar on which to offer sacrifices to Him. In the face of their enemies and in spite of their own fears, the people proved to be obedient, building the altar and reinstituting the sacrificial system Moses had established years before. They also brought back the feasts and festivals, as well as the daily sacrifices. Only then did they begin to build the Temple. They knew they had to get their hearts right before they went about building God’s house. And they knew they had to build the Temple before they began constructing on the wall or any other structures. He had to come first. Getting their spiritual lives in order was paramount. They knew a rebuilt city with strong walls was useless without the presence and power of God to protect them. They had learned that painful lesson from experience. So they built and when the foundation was laid, they celebrated. Some rejoiced at the accomplishment. Others wept because they knew that the new Temple would never match the glory of the old one. But they were faithful to do what God had called them to do. They faced their fears, stood up against their enemies, and they built. It would take them four years to finish the Temple, and they also had to rebuild the city walls and the city itself. This was a gargantuan task, and they did it all under constant pressure and attack from the opposition. God never told them it would be easy. But they were going to find that God was in the midst of their efforts. He was there and He cared. Godly living is not easy. It never was meant to be. It takes effort, courage, obedience, and faith. The presence of opposition is not an indication of God’s absence, but a reminder that we need His power. Our weakness is a great opportunity for Him to reveal His strength. We just need to be faithful and do our part. He will do His.

Father, forgive me for always wanting my life to be easy. Forgive me for getting angry when things get difficult or trials come my way. Keep me focused on You in the midst of it all. Help me to remain faithful in the face of opposition. You have always been there for me and You always will be. Thank You. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

A Remnant Returns.

“So a total of 42,360 people returned to Judah, in addition to 7,337 servants and 200 singers, both men and women.” – Ezra 2:4-5 NLT

God has spoken, a decree has been issued, the leaders have been chosen, and the people selected. Now the return to the Land of Promise can begin. Under the leadership of Sheshbazzar and his nephew, Zerubbabel, the grandson of King Jehoiachin, a relatively tiny remnant of Jews begin their journey back to Judah all the way from Babylon where they have lived in God-imposed exile for 70 years. Few, if any of these would have been a part of the original group who were captured and taken prisoner to Babylon. Those individuals could have still been alive, but like Daniel, they would have been advanced in years and unlikely able to endure the rigors of the long, arduous trip back to Judah. So there were descendants of the original Jews who were take captive by Nebuchadnezzar. They had lived all their lives in a foreign land, but now they were going to be allowed to return to the Promised Land. In spite of the sins of their fathers, God was going to restore them to the land He had given the people of Israel all those years ago. This would have been a rag-tag group, made up of all kinds of people. Some were commoners, some the descendants of priests or Levites, some were the sons and grandsons of servants who worked in the Temple or who served Solomon. And the only thing they had in common was that they could prove their Jewish ancestry. The only thing that deemed them worthy to return to the land was that they were part of the people who had been chosen by God. It’s interesting that God did allow some who could not prove their Jewish ancestry. There was a small group of individuals who were given the right to return to the land even though they couldn’t prove they were descendants of Israel. What a reminder that many of us, in fact, all of us who are non-Jews, have been allowed entry into God’s kingdom through the mercy and grace of God.

Obviously, there were tens of thousands of Jews who chose to remain in Babylon. We’ll never know their reasons for staying, but we can only guess that some feared the trip, while others refused to leave the comforts of life in Babylon. There were probably many who had grown accustomed to life in captivity. The thought of traveling all those miles back to Judah only to live in abject poverty was less than appealing. The number who chose to return was relatively small. When you consider that they were tasked with the job of rebuilding the city of Jerusalem and the Temple itself, it seems impossible. How can this small, rag-tag group of individuals accomplish something so great and against such huge odds? There strength lie not on their numbers, but on their God. It was He who would make their impossible task possible. Jeremiah had expressed this reality in a prayer, “O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!” (Jeremiah 32:17 NLT). And God had confirmed it. “I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 NLT). God was going to use this remnant to accomplish His will. He was going to use the weak to reveal His power. He was going to accomplish the impossible through the improbable. And He is still doing the same today. Our success lies not in our strength, but in our God. It is He who accomplishes the task and wins the battles, not us. God doesn’t need great numbers to do great things. He just needs a few. Jesus only needed a few loaves and fishes to feed a huge crowd. He takes our insufficiencies and accomplishes the impossible and improbable.

“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 NLT

Father, nothing is impossible for You. You are always taking a remnant and doing the impossible and improbable through them. You take what is weak and reveal Your strength through them. That way we can never boast that we did it. We can never grab the glory. Raise up a remnant today Father who would be willing to watch You work through them to accomplish great things in our day. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org

Restoration.

“This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.’” – Ezra 1:2 NLT

The year is 538 BC. The people of Israel have been in exile in Babylon for 70 long years. But God is about to lift His hand of judgment and restore the people to the land and back into His favor. The amazing thing is how God chooses to bring this all about. When He punished the people 70 years earlier, He had used Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to accomplish His will. This Babylonian king was like a puppet in the hand of Almighty God – accomplishing His will and fulfilling His plans for the people of Judah. Now, 70 years later, Cyrus, the king of the Medo-Persian Empire which had defeated Babylon, becomes the next pawn in the hands of God. This powerful leader has his heart stirred by the Spirit of God and issues a decree allowing the Jews to return to the land of Israel. Not only that, recognizes that God has appointed him with the responsibility of rebuilding the Temple at Jerusalem.

God used Babylon to defeat Judah, demolish Jerusalem and destroy the Temple. Now He was going to use Persia to return the people to the land, restore Jerusalem and rebuild the Temple. What an amazing God. This powerful pagan king becomes an instrument in the hands of God to accomplish His will and fulfill His promises to the people of God. What a wonderful reminder that God is in control.

So Cyrus issues his decree, commanding those who chose not to return to financially support the remnant who would be making the trip back to Jerusalem. Cyrus also returns to the people of God all the items that had been plundered from the Temple during the days of Nebuchnezzar. Thousands of bowls, basins, incense burners, and other articles are placed into the hands of God’s people, so that they might be restored to their original purpose, the worship of God. All of these items had at one time been set apart – made holy – and dedicated to the worship of God through the sacrificial system. Now they were going to be restored to their original intent. They had been set aside for a time due to the sins of the people, but now they were being restored. The same thing could be said of the people of God. They had one time been set apart for the glory of God, but sin led to their being set aside. They were God’s chosen people, His instruments, dedicated to His use and designed to bring Him glory among the other nations of the world. But they had been set aside for 70 long years. Now they were being restored. They were being given a second chance by God. What incredible grace. What amazing love. What an unforgettable reminder of how much God loves us and desires to restore us to fellowship with Him when we stray. God had told the people that if they failed to serve Him faithfully, He would be forced to punish them, and He did. But He had also promised to restore them, and now He was. Just as He said He would.

In the future, when you experience all these blessings and curses I have listed for you, and when you are living among the nations to which the Lord your God has exiled you, take to heart all these instructions. If at that time you and your children return to the Lord your God, and if you obey with all your heart and all your soul all the commands I have given you today, then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all the nations where he has scattered you. Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the Lord your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. The Lord your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors! – Deuteronomy 30:1-5 NLT

Father, what a wonderful reminder of Your unfailing love. You are the covenant-keeping God who never fails to keep His word or fulfill He promises. Thank You for choosing me and for never giving up on me. Thank You for constantly calling me back to You when I stray, for restoring me when I fall. May I never take Your grace for granted. Amen

Ken Miller
Grow Pastor & Minister to Men
kenm@christchapelbc.org