Ezra 7-8 On to Jerusalem

Ezra has finished his study and deeply desires to go on to Jerusalem and join the other returnees. God is calling him, and gives him favor for the journey.

Ezra has been faithfully studying and writing Israel’s history of their return to the Promised Land. Now, he is going to get the opportunity to go himself. I have to believe that his excitement has been building while he studied and God’s call on him grew stronger.

Ezra’s getting to go is like a ‘three strand braid’. First is his growing desire, second is the king sending him on a mission, and third is God working them all together. His fingerprints are all over this journey. Let’s join the second group as they return to Jerusalem; the land of their fathers.

♥ ♦ ♥

Ezra finished drying the ink on his last scroll before putting it away. His mind and heart keep thinking about the Temple in Jerusalem. The more he thinks about it, the stronger the desire to go becomes. With that desire also comes a reason for going. Not merely as an observer or to see the sights, but to be an asset to the people.

Ezra has been studying the scrolls all his life. He has access to the scrolls with the Law of Moses contained in it. This is his FAVORITE scroll. And it looks it too! He is careful every time he opens and closes it, but time has a way of catching up to everything and everybody. Ezra made a second copy of his favorite scroll two years ago. He was afraid that the paper was becoming too brittle and would eventually crack or fade.

Ezra feels God calling him to share the knowledge he has gained from studying the scrolls with the people in Jerusalem. Ezra is a humble man and wonders about this desire growing inside him. Let’s join him as he listens to the pull on his heart. And let’s see where the Spirit pulls ours along the journey.

Ezra is pacing in his chambers. Since leaving the document room earlier today, he can’t rest. His heart is aching! It is a longing that he realizes has been building since he started his concise record of the progress of the returnees. He doesn’t know how, but he knows that he HAS to go there himself. He is pacing, trying to figure out how to ask the king’s permission. There haven’t been any others granted permission to return to Jerusalem since Zerubbabel led his group home.

“He has no reason to let me go. I have no reason for going either, beyond wanting to be of service to the people. O Lord God of heaven, tell me what to do” Ezra pleads.

Ezra is worn out from pacing. He finally decides to go to bed and try to sleep. The amazing things is, once his head hit the pillow, he was out like an extinguished candle. As Ezra sleeps, the Spirit fills him with his purpose and words to speak before the king.

In the night, Ezra sees himself teaching the people the Law of Moses. Helping them to understand all that the Lord desires of them. They listen to him with great attention and he has a positive impact on their lives.

Ezra is a direct descendant from the Lord’s first high priest; Aaron. He has the authority of God’s calling as his backing. And he has the Lord pulling him back to Jerusalem.

The scene in Ezra’s dream shifts to the throne room of Artaxerxes. Ezra stands before the king and speaks with humility and sincerity. “Great king Artaxerxes; live forever. I have come to ask your leave to travel to the homeland of my people so that I may teach them of the Laws of our God. I believe He is drawing me to this purpose.”

In the dream, Artaxerxes is more than happy to send Ezra on his way. “Go with my blessing and with gifts to the people of your God. Go as my ambassador and send me word on how the people are faring. Take as many people as desire to go along with you.”

Ezra snaps awake after this pronouncement. He climbs out of his bed and falls on his knees to pray. “Lord God of all creation, if these dreams are you telling me to go, make it so when I approach the king tomorrow. You have given me the confidence to do so.”

Early in the morning, Ezra makes his way to the palace. He feels the hand of the Lord on him and has confidence from his dream. He remains respectful though and goes into the throne room with humility. He will not demand; only request.

As Ezra makes his way to the customary place where petitioners stand, Artaxerxes welcomes him. “Ezra, my faithful scribe. I was thinking of you this morning. I have a task for you.”

“I live to serve, my king” Ezra says with a bow.

“I am in need of an update on the happenings in the province Beyond the River; especially the land of Judah. I am going to send you there as my eyes and ears.”

Ezra nearly trips as his mind is reeling with the king’s words. “I didn’t even have to ask to go” thinks Ezra. Before he opens his mouth, his heart speaks; “Ask for others to come with you.”

“It would be my honor to serve you in the manner, my king. My heart has been longing to return to the land of my fathers for some time. You have answered my prayer! I have a request to make of the king regarding this journey.”

“Ask for what you will.”

“My lord, you know that there has been but one group of people return to the land of our fathers since the time of Cyrus. I am requesting permission to bring maybe a smaller group of the Jews with me.”

“Let me discuss this with my counselors. I will give you an answer before the sun sets this day.”

Ezra walks away with a tiny bit of discouragement. He wishes the king would have given him an immediate answer, but he is still confident in the vision from the Lord. He can wait a little longer.

Artaxerxes calls for his counselors as soon as Ezra leaves. Once everyone is present, Artaxerxes begins the discussion. “Ezra, the scribe, whom I have decided to send to the province Beyond the River, to Judah even, has asked that others of his people be allowed to accompany him. What say you all?”

“How many does he ask to take?”

“I suppose it will be as many as desire to go.”

“His people are well settled. Maybe none, or even only a few will want to go.”

“Even if the number is large, they are not vital to the function of Persia. Their leaving can easily be absorbed by the economy.”

“The most important issue to me is their God. He has proven Himself powerful in even the eyes of the kings of Persia. If we refuse Ezra this request, will we be angering Him?”

Artaxerxes nod as he contemplates this angle. “What if we sent Him a tribute along with Ezra? Would He not look favorably on us then?”

“He may well do so, but I believe it is best if NOT tied to letting the people go. It should be an offering of desire to honor Him, rather that one of compulsion or fear.”

“This is true. And, from ALL I have seen, heard, and learned, He is worthy of a tribute. If we do this, we would ask Ezra to intercede on our behalf before Him.”

“It is settled then. Ezra may take as many of his people as desire to go, and we will send a tribute to his God. I believe that the people would also be inclined to send tribute to Ezra’s God. Let him ask of the people, and all who are willing, may give him their offering to bring before his God.”

“I have another question to pose” one of the counselors states.

“Pose it and we will consider your idea” answers Artaxerxes.

“As Ezra’s God reigned in much of the province Beyond the River, should you decree that the people serve only Him? I believe it would honor Him greatly to make such a decree.”

Artaxerxes sees great wisdom in this idea. “I will make such a decree and place it in the hands of Ezra to carry to the people in the province. I will also offer the support of the king’s treasury to meet ANY of the needs that may arise during, and after, Ezra’s journey.”

“Let them be given freedom from tariffs and taxes as well, for some would find such a bounty hard to resist.”

“It will all be done with great urgency. Send me a scribe that I may craft such a decree!”

A scribe is brought into the midst of the counselors. He knows from experience to listen to the discussion, but contribute nothing to parchment that is not issued from the king’s lips. He waits, ready to begin his task.

“Artaxerxes, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. And now I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you. For you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand, and also to carry the silver and gold that the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem. With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem. Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God. The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem. And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king’s treasury.

“And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence, up to 100 talents of silver, 100 cors of wheat, 100 baths of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest His wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons. We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.

“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. And those who do not know them, you shall teach. Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment” (Ezra 7:12-26).

Artaxerxes and his counselors gather together their tribute to the God of heaven. Once everything is ready, a runner is sent to bring Ezra before the king. When Ezra arrives, he bows before the king and listens to all that the king has to say.

Ezra never expected this kindness from the king! “O my king, you do me a great honor in entrusting me with your offering to my God. I will pray diligently for you to my God and ask that He bless the king even more than He has already done.”

Artaxerxes is pleased with Ezra’s response and willingness to intercede on his behalf with his God. “Do you need anything more?”

“No, my king. You have been most generous, and I can see the hand of my God at work already. His hand will guide my journey and He will call those He wills to accompany me on my journey.”

“Then make haste and ask your people who will go with you, and the people of the region who will contribute of their own hearts to your God.”

Ezra bows, then hurries off to begin gathering people and freewill offerings to the Lord. He has already spread the word of the possibility of leaving and returning to Jerusalem through a handful of his closest associates. They, in turn, spread it abroad to the people of Israel. When he returns to his home, after meeting with the king, a growing group of people greet him.

“What says the king, dear brother” one of the men ask.

“You would not believe it if I did not carry the very words of the king in my hand! We are to leave with his blessing, AND his own gifts to the Lord our God.”

Gasps circulate through the crowd. Ezra holds up his hand, for he has more to say. “He has also told us to go to the people of the land and ask if they have freewill offerings they would care to send with us as well.”

“Just like the people did when leaving Egypt!”

“Exactly! We need to begin at once; passing the word for others who may want to join us, and gathering the offerings. Have everyone gather at river that runs to Ahava. We will wait there for three days to ensure that all who wish to join us have time to arrive.”

It is a busy three days as people continue to join Ezra’s group and offerings to the Lord pour in. Ezra makes sure to enroll everyone who arrives. They are listed by their tribe, clan, and father’s house. As the list grows, Ezra notices that none of the Levites are among the people. He specifically wants other Levites to join their group. He does not feel as though he can carry the load of the people all on his own. He doesn’t mind leading, but he needs help.

Ezra calls for several of the leading men of Israel who had joined him already. “Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight” (Ezra 8:16) come to Ezra’s call. “I am sending you to “Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia” (Ezra 8:17). Ask of him whom he would send with us for the work of the Lord. Trust in the hand of God to bring the right men to us.”

This group of leaders take the news of the king’s desire to honor their God, as well as Ezra, to Iddo. He recognizes the hand of God at work on the people’s behalf and he calls several of the best men to go with Ezra. When the men return to Ezra, they bring with them “a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18; also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20; besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites” (Ezra 8:18-20).

Ezra is very pleased with both sets of men; those who went on the mission, and those who answered the call of the Lord. “Welcome to the Lord’s work” Ezra tells the new group. To those who went for him, he has words for them as well. “You are truly men of great character and faithful followers of the Lord our God. You have done well, and I have no doubt that the Lord will reward you for your faithfulness.”

On the third day, Ezra calls all the people together. He looks around at the people. These are not military men, trained in battle, but everyday citizens. Some were farmers, some merchants, and some even slaves. They have no might to protect themselves against marauders or bandits. They don’t even have weapons to take with them. But they have the hand of God on this journey. His hand is greater than anything that they might face along the way.

Ezra starts with the same words that he had spoken to the king regarding the journey. “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”

The people shout, Amen!

“They are ready” thinks Ezra. It is time to give the people their first assignment as a collective group. “I am proclaiming a fast for all of us, so that we may humble ourselves before our Lord and entreat Him to guard our journey so that we, our wives, our children, and all our goods arrive in Jerusalem safe.”

There is no grumbling, even among the children. The only ones exempt from this fast are the very young. Infants cannot fast and survive. The people pray together as one, before breaking up and praying in smaller groups.

“Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel. We make this journey to honor You. To return to the place where You called Your people to. To be a blessing to those around us and to our brothers. As we travel, keep us safe in the faces of those who might try and dissuade us. Protect us from any who would seek to harm us or take any of what You have entrusted to us to bring to Your Temple. Surround us with Your protection and go before us to prepare the way. We trust that, You, who began this good work, will be faithful to complete it in us.”

After completing his prayer, Ezra calls Sherebiah and Hashabiah to himself. “I need you each to provide from your numbers, including yourselves, six of your finest men for a special purpose. Have them all meet me by the river as soon as you have made your selection.”

Ezra’s tent is pitched by the river and this is where he waits while the men are chosen. As he waits, he begins to separate into twelve portions, what has been provided by the king and the people as offerings to the Lord. It is a large sum and too much for Ezra to carry alone.

When the twelve men arrive at the river, they stand before Ezra. He trusts that the hand of the Lord was over the choice of these men and he trusts them completely. “I have been entrusted with the gifts and offerings received from the king, his counselors, the lords, and all the people. I cannot carry it on my own. I am entrusting each of you to carry a portion of it. I have chosen twelve of you to represent the twelve tribes of Israel. You will be responsible for carrying your portion and then measuring it out to the priests in Jerusalem.”

The men stand ready as Ezra turns to his tent. Ezra carefully weighs out into their hand “650 talents of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, and 100 talents of gold, 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold” (Ezra 8:26-27).

Ezra looks each of them in the eyes before going on. “You are holy to the Lord, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the Lord, the God of your fathers. Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers’ houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the Lord” (Ezra 8:28-29).

All twelve men bow their heads in respect and acceptance of their charge.

At the end of the day, the people gather together for a final prayer before ending their fast. They have all be faithful to honor the Lord by holding true to the fast and seeking His hand for their journey.

Ezra addresses the company. “We will leave with the sunrise, so all of you need to rest well this night. We have entreated our God to watch over us on this journey. His hand is evident in all that has come until this point, which assures me that He will be faithful for the remainder of our journey. Have faith in our God. Watch and see what the Lord will do! For now, I pray a blessing over this meal that will break our fast. Let it be nourishing to our bodies and give us strength for the journey ahead.”

The people went to their tents and prepared the evening meal for their families. Anyone who was alone was folded into another group so that none went hungry or prepared for travel alone. The atmosphere in the camp is one of anticipation and expectation. They don’t know exactly what this journey will entail, but they know that their God will see them through it to the end.

Morning breaks and the camp begins folding in on itself. Tents are packed, animals are loaded, and morning rations are passed among the people. They don’t want to take time to fix a full meal, as they are anxious to be underway. All are ready when Ezra sounds the call to move out.

The people set out for Jerusalem on the twelfth day of the first month for Jerusalem. A routine is quickly established. As it is the winter season, the days do not become too hot for traveling. The people set off at first light each day, stop long enough for a short midday meal, then continue on until the sun begins to set. Camp is quickly set up, dinner prepared and served, and portions for the morning meal, to be eaten as they walk, is laid out.

There is an excitement in the camp throughout the whole journey. The people walk with purpose in their strides in order to reach Jerusalem as quickly as possible. Even the children seem to bound out in front as if leading the way on this grand adventure.

Not a single bandit approaches the camp. No blisters form on anyone’s feet. No illness slows the progress. And no exhaustion overtakes the people. God blesses the entire journey! There were perils around them, but none of them touched even one person in Ezra’s group. They arrive in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. Before entering Jerusalem, they purchase the animals that will be needed for the sacrifices they will be making in the Temple. There are “twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats” (Ezra 8:35) for the offerings.

Ezra keeps the people together in their camp for three days. This is to give everyone time to consecrate themselves to the Lord. On the morning of the fourth day, Ezra, the twelve men charged with bringing the offerings, and the heads of households appear before the priests at the temple.

“We bring offerings and gifts from the Artaxerxes, his counselors, their lords, the people of Israel still in Babylon, and ourselves. We have much to weigh out into the hands of the priests.”

Ezra, and the twelve Levites entrusted with the offerings, weigh them out into the hands of the priests. After the accounting portion is finished, Ezra and the people present the animals they have gathered. The exiles enjoy their portion of the meat that is returned to them from the sacrifice. It is not a king’s feast, but it is enough for the people to each enjoy a portion of the meat.

Once the celebration is over, Ezra goes to the satraps and governors of the province Beyond the River and delivers the kings words to each of them. There are many who are surprised by the king’s edict regarding serving Israel’s God, but none will argue with it.

Ezra is now ready to begin his true mission. He is ready to help the people learn more of the laws of Moses. To draw the people even closer to their God, including the nearly 6,000 people he brought with him.

(to be continued)

I’ve wondered several times about how long such a journey would take. I’m made educated guesses in many stories, but this is the first time I remember being given a specific time line. And it was a unique timeline, even for the people. For, most travelers encounter some form of delays. Ezra’s journey was blessed by God and they made record time. I wonder if others commented on that when told about the journey.

God is the one that ‘opened this door’ for Ezra. EVERY STEP of it was blessed by Him. There are times in our lives when He opens doors like this for us. One of my most memorable times was when He put his hands on my getting housing for my children and myself, where I wanted to go to college. Every obstacle was removed as I made ready for the trip. I had even saved enough that I felt ‘secure’ for the days to come. But God didn’t want me relying on that ‘security’. Circumstances arose where I had to surrender a portion of what I had saved and rely on Him. THAT is actually the point at which He started opening obvious doors for me. Funny how that works.

I have learned to trust His leading. There is a saying that goes something like this; “When God closes a door, He opens a window.” The truth is that, sometimes He closes the door and tells you to “be still” right where you are for a time. Looking for a window in times like this invites trouble. I know that lesson first hand! But even then, God can make something wonderful out of our mistakes.

Father God, lead me where I should go. Don’t let me ‘force open a window’ when You shut the door. Don’t let Satan trick me into thinking that it’s You saying “No” when he throws up roadblocks either. Even Jesus’ own disciples had to push through difficulties on more than one occasion. Help me know the difference. And help me to “be still” when You tell me to.

Yesterday was an over stressed day for me Lord. You already know this, because You walked with me through it. Thank You for allowing me grace to take time and relax instead of diving into Ezra’s story. I could have ‘pushed through’, but I was spent. Thank You for allowing me to take time and enjoy working on my puzzle instead. A mental energy activity for certain, but on of a different caliber. And, thank You for bring me back to Ezra’s story today. He finally made it to the place that had been drawing him in all his life; whether he recognized that calling or not.