…this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses that the Lord, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. (Ezra 7:6 ESV)
God’s Hand
Almost everyone I knew could ride their bicycle without holding onto the handlebars. But I could not. When I l released the handlebars, the bike began to shudder. When I tried to sit up straight, the bicycle had a mind of its own, and aimed, every single time, at the nearest curb, car, or pedestrian.
To my mind, my hands were necessary on the handlebar. That is why it is called a HANDlebar!
God’s hand was on Ezra. And Ezra found political success, administrative success, relational success, and ecclesiastical success. If God’s hand had not been on Ezra, Ezra would have headed towards disappointment, failure, and disaster.
God’s hand on our life is not only what we need, it is all that we need.
God’s hand is more important than training. God’s hand is more important than community. God’s hand is more important than our will. God’s hand is more important than our righteousness. God’s hand is more important than anything.
And if you are a Christian, God’s hand is on you.
The world seeks success, and you have God’s hand! The world seeks understanding, and you have God’s hand! The world seeks peace, and you have God’s hand! The world seeks what Ezra had… and you have it!
We are peculiar, God’s hand is on us.