DCLM Daily Manna 13 August 2022
KEY VERSE: “For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him… So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us” (Ezra 8:22, 23).
TEXT: Ezra 8:15-32 (KJV)
15 And I gathered them together to the river that runneth to Ahava; and there abode we in tents three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the sons of Levi.
16 Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
17 And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.
18 And by the good hand of our God upon us they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;
19 And Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, his brethren and their sons, twenty;
20 Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.
21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
22 For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
23 So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.
24 Then I separated twelve of the chief of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,
25 And weighed unto them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering of the house of our God, which the king, and his counsellors, and his lords, and all Israel there present, had offered:
26 I even weighed unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels an hundred talents, and of gold an hundred talents;
27 Also twenty basons of gold, of a thousand drams; and two vessels of fine copper, precious as gold.
28 And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers.
29 Watch ye, and keep them, until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.
30 So took the priests and the Levites the weight of the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.
31 Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
32 And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.
Read yesterday’s Daily Manna here
George Muller said, “Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends. Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” It takes faith to walk with God in difficult times.
Ezra had the challenging task of leading a delegation of Jews back home to Jerusalem from exile. In taking a census, he noticed the absence of any priest in the delegation. He sought for and found Sherebiah “a man of great understanding” to join his caravan. A long journey, which would involve many difficulties and dangers, was now before Ezra and his great company. For his trip, they needed guidance and protection from the enemies on the way. This danger was increased by the treasures which they carried with them and the character and composition of their company because amongst them were many women and “little ones”, who in case of an attack would not be able to assist in repelling it, but would, themselves require defence.
The challenge was enormous and the options before Ezra were few. He decided to fast and pray, putting his fate and those of his people in the hands of the Almighty. And God, the ever-faithful Father, answered his prayers and kept him and the people safe all through the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem.
Confidence In God is necessary if you must journey through life successfully. You need God for guidance and protection from all dangers that face us daily. Ezra trusted God and He answered his prayers. The same God will answer your prayers today if you will call on Him in faith.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Those who put their confidence in God can never be disappointed.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Job 16-18
Thank you for studying today’s Daily Manna – Confidence in God – by Pastor W.F Kumuyi
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Daily Manna 13 August 2022
