After six chapters of being absent in the book named after him, Ezra finally comes on the scene. And the Bible says of him, “The king had granted him everything he asked, for the hand of the LORD his God was on him” (Ezra 7:6, NIV). That sentence should be special to all of us.

Ezra was a Jewish scribe, a teacher, living in Babylon. The people had returned to Israel and rebuilt the temple, but now, sixty years later, things weren’t all peachy cream. So Ezra, who was well versed in the law, went to Jerusalem.

But before he left Babylon, he dared to negotiate with the king of Persia. He didn’t just leave. No, he said to the king, “I can’t go empty handed. I need this and this and that and this.”

If I had been there, I’d have been holding my breath, thinking, “Ezra, shh. Just be happy he’ll let you go.”

No, no, no. Not Ezra. But God can grant favor with the king of Persia. He can grant favor with unbelievers. And He granted Ezra favor. Why? “The hand of the LORD his God was on him.”

We see something similar in the New Testament, when certain men from Cyprus and Cyrene went to Antioch and did evangelism: “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21, NIV).

Why did multitudes turn to the Lord? Because the hand of the Lord, which speaks of power, was with these men. When they preached, they didn’t put people to sleep. People got converted.

Read church history—there have been millions of preachers. Some put people to sleep; some entertained; some tried to be clever and show off. And then there were men and women, oh, the hand of the Lord was with them.

The gospel has power, but it’s got to be shared by people who have the power of God with them. Double power—the power of the gospel and the power of the speaker.

So we find that the great things Ezra asked for, the king gave to him. Because he was shrewd in his negotiation? No. Because he buttered up the king? “King, your robes—dynamite.” No. “The hand of the LORD his God was on him.”

If we study church history, we find some people who had the hand of God’s blessing on them. God used them. He blessed them. He provided for them. Others, they were just as much Christians, but for whatever reason—walking in disobedience, not trusting God, I don’t know—we cannot say that the hand of the Lord was with them. One person would start a church in some foreign field, and it would shut down in three months. Someone else would start a church, and it would last for fifty years.

The only reason given why the king gave in to Ezra’s request for everything he asked for was, “The hand of the LORD his God was on him.”

I’d rather live one year with the hand of God on me heavily to bless me greater than I’ve ever known than twenty years wandering around, always coming up short, depressed, and anxiety ridden.

When the hand of the Lord is with us, the joy of the Lord is our strength (see Nehemiah 8:10). We have peace that passes understanding (see Philippians 4:7). Even when we’ve got plenty of problems, if the hand of the Lord is on us, we’re going to get through them.

You don’t believe that? It’s throughout Scripture. Wouldn’t you say that the hand of the Lord was with David, in the Old Testament? Wouldn’t you say the hand of the Lord was with Moses? Wouldn’t you say that the apostle Paul had the hand of the Lord on him?

You can call it being full of the Holy Spirit. You can call it being anointed or having the favor of God. Call it what you will. I want it. How about you?

Some people, even if the tide’s against them, they swim. Others, they’re dog paddling: “Ooohhh! Send the lifeguard!”

Callings are sovereign. But when it comes to the hand of the Lord being on people, we have some part to play in it. If we didn’t, we would say, “No, God has foreordained people not to bear fruit and to live just barely eking out an existence spiritually.” But the Bible says that God rewards those who diligently seek Him (see Hebrews 11:6).

We need the hand of the Lord on us to fulfill God’s will. We need it just to live victoriously every day. It’s not by might nor by power (see Zechariah 4:6). It’s not by intelligence. It’s really not even what church we go to. It’s the hand of the Lord with us. “Great grace was on the early church,” the Bible says: “Great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33, NIV). And God was adding to the church daily those who were being saved (see Acts 2:47).

Oh, I want that blessing of God. I want it for you too. Come on, don’t you want it? Or are you satisfied with what you have? According to our faith it will be done to us (see Matthew 9:29).

Prayer

Lord, help us to long for Your hand upon our lives. We want to serve You. We want to do Your will and be used powerfully by You. As for me and my wife and my family, and for all Your people, send it on down, God. Let Your favor be on us, for the glory of Christ.

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