Day 135

Mar 15: Ezra 1-10
Ezra was a really quick book to read but I enjoyed how faithful and how wise he seemed to be. One part I was encouraged by was when Ezra and his followers from Babylon were about to head back to Jerusalem. Before they left, Ezra "proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children."
The reason this jumped out at me was the wisdom and understanding that Ezra demonstrated. He knew that him and his followers were in the hands of God and he wanted to fast to show God that he was humble before Him. He then asked God for a safe journey knowing that He could provide this.
The other admirable thing about Ezra was his passion and fervor for repentance. When he heard that some of his followers and even some of the priests had been intermarrying neighboring people with detestable practices, Ezra "tore [his] tunic and cloak, pulled hair from [his] head and beard and sat down appalled." Can you imagine doing that as a leader because of what your people had done? I picture Ezra doing this and it's crazy; he starts with pure anger ripping out hair from his head and beard and then it seems like he's defeated when he just sits down appalled. He must be so invested in his people to do something like this, and also be so ashamed and angry for the sins against God. He eventually confronts his people and they're able to redeem themselves by removing the neighboring people from their lives through deep repentance and forgiveness from God.
I want to be able to share this kind of investment with God, knowing that I need Him more than anything and having that kind of wretchedness when I sin against Him. I want to have the passion that Ezra had for God and I hope and pray that I can slowly remove the distractions in my life that prevent me from having that just as Ezra did for himself and his people.