[Sung Psalm: 20]
Throughout the scriptures, the "hand of the LORD" is often described as being against the wicked. And sometimes, when the "hand of the LORD" is "on" someone – it is on them in judgment (Psalm 32 – "your hand was heavy upon me.")
It's a prominent theme in the Exodus, as God brought his people out of Egypt by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. "The hand of God" is a phrase used 7 times in the book of Ezra-Nehemiah. Six of those times are in this passage! But here in Ezra 7-8, the hand of God is 'on' Ezra for good. The hand of the LORD is powerful.
For Ezra, there are no special signs and wonders. There are no "miraculous" works. God's hand works by 'ordinary providence' for Ezra.
In verse 6, the king granted all that Ezra asked, "for the hand of the LORD his God was on him." In verse 9, Ezra "came to Jerusalem, for the good hand of his God was on him." In other words, God's ordinary protection. In verse 28, Ezra "took courage [because of the king's letter], for the hand of the LORD my God was on me."
And then in chapter 8, verse 18, we hear that "by the good hand of our God on us," we found some Levites to go to Jerusalem. In 8:22 – "we had told the king, 'The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him'" so we don't need a military escort; And in 8:31, "The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy."
In other words, signs and wonders are not necessary for God's hand to work mightily for your good! In this respect, Ezra is just an ordinary Christian going about his ordinary life, seeking to do what God calls him to do – and trusting that God will provide all that is needed! |
