In exploring the biblical book of Ezra, I’ve been surprised and amazed by seeing the way God works behind the scenes. Here are 5 surprising discoveries in the pages of this book:
(1) God made sure Cyrus’s edict was put into writing (Ezra 1:1). That way, it could be found later in the archives at a critical point in time. God is in the details.
(2) King Darius actually authorized the later search of the archives to find the edict and aligned with Cyrus’s word to the Israelites (Ezra 6:1-18). He certainly didn’t have to do that from any human perspective. God was showing him the truth. God can reveal His truth even when someone may not yet know Him.
(3) God worked initially through Cyrus, who wasn’t an Israelite (Ezra 1:1-11). Don’t limit who God can work through. This is one of many reasons we need to pray for leaders regardless of their faith background. That, and the fact that they too are God’s children, made in His image.
(4) The Israelites built the altar before constructing the temple (Ezra 3:1-6). Worship was more important and more immediate. Presence and relationship with God came first. This reminds us today that while circumstances may not be ideal, what matters is choosing to spend time with God.
(5) The first interference of local opposition caused a delay in the temple rebuilding project (Ezra 4:1-24). A later wave of opposition interference did not (Ezra 5:1-6:18). God sent prophets to encourage the people to keep going (Ezra 5:1-2). Encouragement goes a long way.
The biblical book of Ezra is filled with surprises and examples of how God works behind the scenes. If you’re curious, take some time to read Ezra. It’s a fairly short but very encouraging book of the Bible that will no doubt stay with you long after you read it.
