“I see Jesus in you when you tell what He has done, when you quote His Word and do what He says.”  What a powerful testimony of one by another believer who is also led of God with His hand of protection, provision, power, and wisdom laid lovingly on them.  As believers, in our seeking of God, we seek to see God in each other.  There is a holy relationship of trust and comradery not found in any other relationship because it is our relationship with God that affects all other relationships in our lives!

In our imperfect world were evil deceives us consistently we long for and seek God’s truth and evidence of His truth in others.  When we can readily see God at work in another person, we are drawn to them instantly because we “speak the same language” of truth, who is God. There is a beautiful trust between us that develops readily and easily as we both seek God together. God puts these people in our lives on purpose with His purpose to strengthen and help us navigate this world that is temporary in preparation for our final permanent home with Him.

God also works through unbelievers who know of God but they do no fully know God as their one and only God.  They know enough to be impressed by what God has done in and for others who believe. They might be in awe of God’s power readily seen in miraculous ways. But fear of God is what leads them to be aware of how they treat others who believe without believing themselves.   

King Artaxerxes of Persia is one of those who does not believe but fears God. He is impressed with Ezra who knows and lives God’s Truth.  Because he wants no trouble from God for the people of Persia; he allows God to lead him to help God’s people through Ezra—sixty years after the first return of exiles to Jerusalem! It time to send back more refugees back home.  Amazing how God works through all humans He has created no matter what language or culture that have become accustomed. There is no one like our God!

Ezra 7

Ezra Comes to Jerusalem

After these things, during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah, ² the son of Shallum, the son of Zadok, the son of Ahitub, ³ the son of Amariah, the son of Azariah, the son of Meraioth, ⁴ the son of Zerahiah, the son of Uzzi, the son of Bukki, ⁵ the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest— ⁶ this Ezra came up from Babylon. He was a teacher well versed in the Law of Moses, which the Lord, the God of Israel, had given. The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him. ⁷ Some of the Israelites, including priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers and temple servants, also came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

⁸ Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the fifth month of the seventh year of the king. ⁹ He had begun his journey from Babylon on the first day of the first month, and he arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month, for the gracious hand of his God was on him. ¹⁰ For Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel.

King Artaxerxes’ Letter to Ezra

¹¹ This is a copy of the letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law, a man learned in matters concerning the commands and decrees of the Lord for Israel:

¹² Artaxerxes, king of kings,

To Ezra the priest, teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:

Greetings.

¹³ Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who volunteer to go to Jerusalem with you, may go. ¹⁴ You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand. ¹⁵ Moreover, you are to take with you the silver and gold that the king and his advisers have freely given to the God of Israel, whose dwelling is in Jerusalem, ¹⁶ together with all the silver and gold you may obtain from the province of Babylon, as well as the freewill offerings of the people and priests for the temple of their God in Jerusalem. ¹⁷ With this money be sure to buy bulls, rams and male lambs, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ You and your fellow Israelites may then do whatever seems best with the rest of the silver and gold, in accordance with the will of your God. ¹⁹ Deliver to the God of Jerusalem all the articles entrusted to you for worship in the temple of your God. ²⁰ And anything else needed for the temple of your God that you are responsible to supply, you may provide from the royal treasury.

²¹ Now I, King Artaxerxes, decree that all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates are to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you— ²² up to a hundred talents of silver, a hundred cors of wheat, a hundred baths of wine, a hundred baths of olive oil, and salt without limit. ²³ Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should his wrath fall on the realm of the king and of his sons? ²⁴ You are also to know that you have no authority to impose taxes, tribute or duty on any of the priests, Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, temple servants or other workers at this house of God.

²⁵ And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them. ²⁶ Whoever does not obey the law of your God and the law of the king must surely be punished by death, banishment, confiscation of property, or imprisonment.

²⁷ Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way ²⁸ and who has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king’s powerful officials. Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Probably the greatest affirmation we can receive from another is, “I see Jesus in you when you talk about God!”  I received this affirmation from a twelve-year-old studying for her confirmation at her religious school. I am her mentor for the next two years as she completes her coursework in God’s Word while seeking to do His will in her life. I was about to say the same to her over our lunch mentoring time together, but she beat me to the words!  Her shining eyes danced as she talked about what God says in His Word each day to her along with how He is affecting her behaviors.  There is no doubt that God has His hand on this young lady. I look forward with expectant hope for what God will further do in and through her as she draws other to Jesus for His glory!   

King Artaxerxes sees God in Ezra and says so!  Ezra has dedicated himself to God and His teachings.  Ezra has made quite an impression on the king all because of God in him!  “The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the Lord his God was on him.”

The hand of the Lord is upon any believer who has surrendered their lives to God in Jesus Name.  All believers who call on the name of Jesus are redeemed and set free.  All who believe live with expectant hope to live with God forever!  All who surrender to God with humbled committed hearts for God gets the full attention of God.  “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 

God’s hand of protection and help falls over those who seek justice, love mercy, as they walk humbly with Him. Micah 6:8 tells us simply this is what God requires of us who seek His hand upon us.

God’s Hand was on Ezra whose lineage could be traced back to Aaron, the first priest. He didn’t squander his rich spiritual legacy they had entrusted to him but used it to honor the Lord and serve His people.  Even unbelievers saw God in him.  The king entrusted Ezra to lead another group of refugees from Babylon back to Jerusalem.  The king also ordered that Ezra seek justice with mercy for all returning exiles and teach them the ways of God!  All the work of God!  There is no one like our God!

Ezra’s response? “Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me.” 

Pause, prayer, reflect, evaluate with the help of God’s Holy Spirit—

• Who or what do others see in us?
• What is the current condition of our hearts? 
• Do we seek justice for all no matter what language others speak, for unbelievers and believers alike? 
• Do we extend mercy in the same ways that God has extended mercy to us—without conditions? 
• These are behaviors that will demonstrate our true belief. 
• Do others know our desire is to walk humbly with our God? 

They will know if God’s love is present, alive, and active, working in and through us. To know God is to know His love for love is God.  1 John 4:7-8

Lord,

May others see You in me so they will know and follow You, not me.

In Jesus Name, Amen