In our study of Ezra chapter eight we will look at his journey to Jerusalem and how he walked by faith.
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These are the heads of their fathers' clans, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Bavel during the reign of Artach'shashta the king: of the descendants of Pinchas: Gershom; of the descendants of Itamar: Dani'el; of the descendants of David: Hatush; of the descendants of Sh'khanyah: of the descendants of Par'osh: Z'kharyah, and with him 150 males officially registered; of the descendants of Pachat-Mo'av: Ely'ho'einai the son of Z'rachyah, and with him 200 males; of the descendants of Sh'khanyah: the son of Yachazi'el, and with him 300 males; of the descendants of 'Adin: 'Eved the son of Yonatan, and with him 50 males; of the descendants of 'Eilam: Yesha'yah the son of 'Atalyah, and with him 70 males; of the descendants of Sh'fatyah: Z'vadyah the son of Mikha'el, and with him 80 males; of the descendants of Yo'av: 'Ovadyah the son of Yechi'el, and with him 218 males; of the descendants of Shlomit: the son of Yosifyah, and with him 160 males; of the descendants of Bevai: Z'kharyah the son of Bevai, and with him 28 males; of the descendants of 'Azgad: Yochanan the son of HaKatan, and with him 110 males; of the descendants of Adonikam: the younger ones, whose names were Elifelet, Ye'i'el and Sh'ma'yah, and with them 60 males; and of the descendants of Bigvai: 'Utai and Zakur, and with them 70 males.
Here, we see a list of the families that made the trip to Jerusalem with Ezra.
I assembled them by the river that runs to Ahava, and we camped there three days. I reviewed the people and the cohanim but found no L'vi'im there. So I sent for Eli'ezer, Ari'el, Sh'ma'yah, Elnatan, Yariv, Elnatan, Natan, Z'kharyah and Meshulam, who were leaders, and also for Yoyariv and Elnatan, who were men of discernment. I gave them instructions for Iddo, the leading man in a place called Kasifya, and told them what to say to Iddo and his brother, who were in charge of Kasifya, so that they would bring us men to minister in the house of our God.
When Ezra surveyed the crowd, he found that they did not have any Levites who would be the temple servants. These were the ones that were trained to take care of the things of God and so, he sent for them. Most of us would have probably tried to go on with what we had but Ezra knew that God had set aside the Levites for that job and so he went about getting them.
Since the good hand of our God was on us, they brought us Ish-Sekhel from the descendants of Machli the son of Levi, the son of Isra'el; Sherevyah with eighteen of his sons and kinsmen; Hashavyah, with Yesha'yah, from the descendants of M'rari, and twenty of his kinsmen and their sons; and from the temple servants, whom David and the princes had assigned to serve the L'vi'im, two hundred temple servants, all recorded by name.
We see that the priests and temple servants were provided and we can thank God that we are all able to serve Him now. The only requirement for serving the Lord is a relationship with Him. Under the Mosaic Law, service was based on the relationship to family lines but Jesus fulfilled the Law and made a way for us to serve God.
Then, there at the Ahava River, I proclaimed a fast; so that we could humble ourselves before our God and ask a safe journey of him for ourselves, our little ones and all our possessions. For I would have been ashamed to ask the king for a detachment of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies along the road, since we had said to the king, "The hand of our God is on all who seek him, for good; but his power and fury is against all who abandon him." So we fasted and asked our God for this, and he answered our prayer.
With all of the great wealth that they were carrying to Jerusalem, Ezra was concerned that they would be robbed on the road. In the face of this concern, he declared a fast and we are reminded that this speaks of the fact that they did not eat or drink. There are many, today, who want to declare a fast from sinful things and equate this with the biblical fast but it is not. A fast is giving up something that is good to focus on God not a temporary turning from sin. He goes on to explain that they had told the king of God's provision and protection and so he was ashamed to go back and ask for an escort. Today, most lack that same shame as they will proclaim the provision and protection of God in a Sunday service but come Monday morning it's every man for himself. Ezra goes on to tell us that God heard and answered their prayer. That same promise is for us if we are in Christ.
Then I separated twelve of the chief cohanim, along with Sherevyah, Hashavyah and ten of their kinsmen. I weighed out to them the silver, the gold and the utensils for the house of our God contributed by the king, his counselors, his princes and all Isra'el present there. I weighed out and handed over to them twenty-one-and-a-half tons of silver, three-and-a-third tons of silver articles, three-and-a-third tons of gold, twenty gold bowls weighing twenty-one pounds, and two vessels of fine burnished bronze as precious as gold.
After prayer, Ezra took action and twenty four priests and temple servants were to carry the valuables for the temple. We are reminded that the number twelve is associated with divine authority and these men were trusting God to protect them and the treasure on the way to Jerusalem.
Then I told them, "You are consecrated to ADONAI, the articles are holy, and the silver and gold are a voluntary offering for ADONAI the God of your ancestors. Guard them carefully, until you weigh them before the chief cohanim and L'vi'im and the leaders of the fathers'clans in Yerushalayim, in the rooms of the house of ADONAI." So the cohanim and L'vi'im received the consignment of silver and gold and the articles to bring to Yerushalayim, to the house of our God.
Ezra gave the men their commission and reminded them that they were set aside for the use of God (consecrated). This was a reminder to them that God would take care of them on their journey. This same principle applies to us, if we are in Christ. The Holy Spirit consecrates us and we can trust that, since we are His, he will take care of us on our journey through this life and for eternity.
On the twelfth day of the first month, we left the Ahava River to go to Yerushalayim. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and surprise attacks along the road. In time, we arrived at Yerushalayim, where we rested for three days.
What an uneventful trip but it is good to see that God takes care of His people. They made it to Jerusalem and rested. Like Ezra, when we pray and do what God shows us, we can trust Him and move out in safety.
On the fourth day, the silver, gold and articles were weighed in the house of our God and handed over to M'remot the son of Uriyah the cohen; with him was El'azar the son of Pinchas; and with them were Yozavad the son of Yeshua and No'adyah the son of Binui, who were L'vi'im. The entire consignment was numbered and weighed, and at the same time the total weight was recorded.
After their rest, they delivered the treasures to the temple and we notice that it was all there and handed over to the priest. In this we see that God completely protects as not a single piece was lost during the trip. We also see that those entrusted with it did not keep any for themselves but instead handed it all over for the service of the Lord. There are many who are entrusted with offerings for the work of God but somehow it doesn't all end up being delivered. We must remember that this is in fact robbing God and His work.
The exiles who had returned from captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Isra'el - twelve young bulls for all Isra'el, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats as a sin offering; all this was a burnt offering for ADONAI. They also delivered the king's orders to the king's viceroys and governors beyond the [Euphrates] River; and these gave their support to the people and to the house of God.
The entire assembly then presented the sacrifices to God for their sins. The king's orders were passed on to the government leaders and they obeyed by assisting in the provision for the temple.
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