Faith That Matches Words

Ezra's company included family heads, but when he reviewed them at Ahava, he found no Levites. Temple service required them, so Ezra sent a delegation to Iddo at Casiphia. Ezra credits the result to the good hand of God: a man of discretion named Sherebiah came with his family, along with others and many temple servants.

The most striking moment is Ezra's fast. He had testified to Artaxerxes that God's hand is on all who seek Him. To ask for soldiers now would seem to contradict that testimony. So he proclaimed a fast at Ahava, that they might humble themselves before God and seek a straight way for their families and possessions. God listened to their request. Ezra's actions matched his words.

Ezra then practiced careful accountability. He weighed out the treasure to twelve chiefs of the priests, charging them to watch over it because they and the vessels were holy to Yahweh. After a journey of about four months, the hand of God had protected them from enemies and ambushes. In Jerusalem every item was weighed and recorded. The returning exiles offered burnt offerings, including twelve bulls for all Israel, and delivered the king's commissions to the governors, who supported the people and God's house.