by Jamie Roussie

At this point in the story, I'm struck with the impressive force with which Ezra appears on the scene. Ezra has the blessing of God, the blessing of the king of Persia and good standing with the people of Israel as they set out to return back to the Promised Land. Ezra is given accolades for knowing the law and being a great teacher of it.

It is easy for me to wish for a teacher like Ezra to be part of my own experience, a teacher who knows God’s law and has the favor of God upon him. Imagine if someone like this was our teacher. We’d know exactly what God wanted from us. We’d know clearly what he wanted to tell us. But, perhaps it wouldn’t be quite so easy, even if a person like Ezra were among us today.

A few scenes later in Ezra's story, the people under Ezra's leadership turn away from his instruction and violate God's standards. Despite Ezra's greatness, the people he is leading stray. Why is it that extrinsic sources of compliance to rules do little to gain real obedience, even from a source as great as Ezra? Ezra's story shows me again that it is God that works to change the thoughts and attitudes of the heart that brings about true obedience to him.

A fellow traveler,
Jamie