Thursday, September 17, 2009
Ezra 8:21-23
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “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.” So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. (ESV)
by Jean Jorgensen
Ezra told the king that because the hand of God was on them they didn’t need soldiers and horses for protection although it was a fearsome journey. In order to be authentic in petitioning God’s protection, they humbled themselves by fasting. As a result of their sincerity, God answered their prayer (v. 31). How often in our lives do we quickly petition God but forego the part we play in fasting and humbling ourselves before Him? What are your experiences with fasting to humble yourself before God?
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2010, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service.
