Ezra 7:11-20: a reflection

11Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the LORD’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel: 12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now 13I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you. 14Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand, 15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem, 16and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem. 17Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem. 18Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God. 19The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem. 20Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.

Ezra is sent to Jerusalem to teach and establish God's law, and remarkably, he goes with the full backing of the Persian king Artaxerxes. The king's letter grants Ezra freedom to lead willing exiles home, funds his mission generously from the royal treasury, provides silver and gold for the temple, and authorizes whatever more is needed. A pagan king, who did not worship the God of Israel, was moved to support and fund the work of God's people with striking generosity.

Notice whose heart God moved to further his work: a pagan king's. Artaxerxes had no allegiance to the God of Israel; and yet he was moved to grant Ezra all this, to fund the mission, to provide for the temple, to back the work generously. God's purposes were advanced not only through his own people, but through the heart of a foreign king, whom God moved to support the work. The rulers of the nations are not beyond God's reach; he can move even their hearts to accomplish his purposes.

That is a reassurance about God's ability to accomplish his purposes, even through those who do not know him. We can imagine that God's work depends only on his own people, and be discouraged when those in power seem indifferent or opposed. But God moved a pagan king's heart to fund and support his work; the hearts of rulers are in his hand, and he can turn them to serve his purposes. Do not think God's purposes depend only on the willing, or that those in power are beyond his reach. God moved Artaxerxes to support his work; he is able to move even the hearts of those who do not know him to accomplish his purposes. Trust that God can advance his work through unexpected means, even through the hearts of rulers who do not worship him, as he moved Artaxerxes to support Ezra; his purposes are not limited to the willing, for the hearts of all, even kings, are in his hand.

Lord, Ezra was sent to Jerusalem with the full backing of the pagan king Artaxerxes, who funded his mission generously, provided for the temple, and authorized whatever more was needed; you moved even a foreign king's heart to support the work of your people. Reassure me by that of your ability to accomplish your purposes, even through those who do not know you. I can imagine that your work depends only on your own people, and be discouraged when those in power seem indifferent or opposed. But you moved a pagan king's heart to fund and support your work; the hearts of rulers are in your hand, and you can turn them to serve your purposes. Keep me from thinking your purposes depend only on the willing, or that those in power are beyond your reach. You moved Artaxerxes to support your work; you are able to move even the hearts of those who do not know you to accomplish your purposes. Help me trust that you can advance your work through unexpected means, even through the hearts of rulers who do not worship you, as you moved Artaxerxes to support Ezra; your purposes are not limited to the willing, for the hearts of all, even kings, are in your hand. I trust your sovereign hand over all hearts, Lord.