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272
Royalty and Ruin
The king and his princes had provided abundant support, but
where were the sons of Levi? A decision to go with their brethren
would have led others to follow their example. Their strange indif-
ference is a sad revelation of the attitude the Israelites in Babylon
showed toward God’s plan for his people.
Once more Ezra sent the Levites an urgent invitation to join
with his company. Trusted messengers hurried with the plea, “Bring
us servants for the house of our God.”
Ezra 8:17
. Some who had
been hesitating decided to return. In all, about forty priests and two
hundred twenty ministers, teachers, and helpers came to the camp.
All were now ready. Ahead of them was a journey of several
months. The men were taking their wives and children, their pos-
sessions, and treasure for the temple. Enemies lay in wait, ready to
rob and destroy Ezra and everyone with him, yet he had not asked
the king for an armed force for protection. “I was ashamed,” he
explained, “to request of the king an escort of soldiers and horsemen
to help us against the enemy on the road, because we had spoken to
the king, saying, ‘The hand of our God is upon all those for good
who seek Him, but His power and wrath are against all those who
forsake Him.’”
Verse 22
.
For this reason they determined to put their trust wholly in God.
They would ask for no soldiers. They would not plant one doubt in
the minds of their heathen friends about their sincerity in depending
on God. Strength would come not through human power, but through
the favor of God. They would have protection only by earnestly
seeking to obey the law of the Lord.
This knowledge lent a solemn air to the consecration service
Ezra and his company held just before they set out. “I proclaimed
a fast there at the river of Ahava,” Ezra declared, “that we might
humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way
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for us and our little ones and all our possessions. ... So we fasted
and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer.”
Verses
21-23
.
Only the Trustworthy Are Chosen
The blessing of God, however, did not make it unnecessary to
exercise caution and careful planning. To safeguard the treasure,