God will Show Up

“For I was ashamed to ask of the king troops and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our God is on all those who seek Him for good, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” (Ezra 8:22)

After King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon took the Jews captives, they were in captivity under different rulers; Nebuchadnezzar’s son, Evil-Merodach. Evil-Merodach was killed by his brother in law, Neriglissar, also known as Nergal-Sharezer (Jeremiah 39:3,13) His son Labashi-Marduk became king as a child, but was assassinated. Nabonidus became king and his eldest son Belshazzar took over and Nabonidus left for Arabia for ten years. When he returned, he was captured by the Persians.

“They shall be carried to Babylon, and they shall be there until the day that I visit them, says Jehovah. Then I will bring them up and give them back to this place.” (Jeremiah 27:22) The Jews stayed in Babylonia even after the Persians invaded Babylon. Cyrus the Great ruled then and decreed that the Jews could return to Israel.  And our God Who knows the end from the beginning prophesies through Isaiah about Cyrus: “I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways; he shall build My city, and he shall let My captives go, not for price nor reward, says Jehovah of Hosts.” (Isaiah 45:13) And Ezra writes, “ So says Cyrus king of Persia, Jehovah, the God of Heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all His people? Let his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of Jehovah, the God of Israel (He is God) which is in Jerusalem. And whoever remains in any place where he resides, let the men of his place help him with silver and with gold and with goods and with animals, besides the freewill offering for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:2-4)

There is a gap of eighty years from the decree that Cyrus made his decree and the one made by Artaxerxes I when one looks at the dates. But the count down for the seventy year is officially 457 BC. We have to remember that different calendars were used. But the Lord is not mistaken on the 70 years the Jews were to be in captivity.

It was during the reign of Artaxerxes I that we have Ezra’s account. He was a scribe and a priest whose heritage could be traced to Aaron. During the captivity he was summoned by Artaxerxes the king to restore the God’s Law and worship in Jerusalem. “And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are Beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of Heaven, shall ask of you, it shall be done exactly, to a hundred talents of silver, and to a hundred measures of wheat, and to a hundred baths of wine, and to a hundred baths of oil, and salt without saying. Whatever is commanded by the God of Heaven, let it be carefully done for the house of the God of Heaven, for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons? Also, we notify you, that in regard to any of the priests and the Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple slaves, or ministers of this house of God, it shall not be lawful to impose toll, taxes, or custom on them. And now, Ezra, after the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, set officers and judges who may judge all the people who are Beyond the River, all who know the Laws of your God; and teach them who do not know. And whoever will not do the Law of your God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily on him, whether it is to death, or to exile, or to confiscation of goods, or imprisonment.” (Ezra 7:21-26)

It was then that Ezra brags on God. The king had offered Ezra protection, but Ezra brags on God saying, “... The hand of our God is on all those who seek Him for good, but His power and His wrath are against all those who forsake Him.” So after consideration he was afraid to ask for protection from the king. So they fasted and prayed for protection.

We are so like Ezra. We brag on the Lord’s promises like healing for example. And we should. He is faithful. But when the healing doesn’t come we are ashamed to proclaim His promises, perhaps thinking, “What if God doesn’t show up. What if I’m not healed. I will bring shame on the Lord.” We must be bold to proclaim God’s might, power and promises. And we must remember that God is God and not limited like man. If healing doesn’t come to us, it’s for His eternal purpose. Paul went through this. “... lest I be made haughty, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be made haughty. For this thing I besought the Lord three times, that it might depart from me. And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may overshadow me.” (2Corinthians 12:6-9) Now Paul was not saying that the Lord gave him the thorn in the flesh, but he is saying that God allowed it for His purpose. If we belong to the Lord, He will keep us in His Will through circumstances and situations. We tend to worry too much about if we’re in His Will. If you surrendered your life to Jesus, He is in charge. And He will cause us to be used for His purposes. That begs the question of why we pray to be in His Will and purpose if the Lord is vigilant to keep us in His Will. That kind of prayer is a rededication of our lives to the Lord, reminding ourselves of our position in Christ and reaffirming to the Lord our devotion and loyalty.

The Lord will not let us down when we brag on Him. He loves to show how powerless the enemy is. When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal to show the people who was the real God,  the prophets of Baal could not get their god to consume the sacrifice. They did all kinds of things to try to get their god to act. When it was Elijah’s turn to show that God was the real God, he had them drench the sacrifice, the wood and the altar with water twice. (1Kings 20:20-37) And God showed up. “And the fire of Jehovah fell and burned up the burnt sacrifice and the wood, and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw, they fell on their faces. And they said, Jehovah, He is the God! Jehovah, He is the God! And Elijah said to them, Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the torrent Kishon and killed them there.” (1Kings 18:38-40)

I went to the mountains surrounding Ciudad Victoria to a little town called San Vicente de Tamaulipas. It was a small town of maybe four-six streets. There was a pastor there preaching the Word to this village of witches.  They tried to poison him but failed. The witches would surround the church property and scream and yell, making a clamor banging on things trying to drown the preaching which was broadcast through a speaker from the church. The persecution because of the Gospel was very real there. But God protected His people, the church and the pastor. The dog ate what they had poisoned and died. God showed up and saved the pastor’s life.

All in all, what do we say about God’s promises? We can say God can and God will if it’s for His eternal purpose. Do not be afraid or ashamed to proclaim the promise to the heathen. Be bold. God will show up and glorify Himself no matter if we’re healed or not. “And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.” (Mark 16:17-18) Now we’re not going to tempt God by doing foolish things as some have to prove God’s Word. But in the event that we face serpents and drink any deadly thing, we will not be hurt. And God will show that He is real to the heathen. “And Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laying them on the fire, a viper came out of the heat and fastened on his hand. And when the foreigners saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, being saved from the sea, Justice has not allowed to live. Then indeed he shook off the creature into the fire, suffering no harm. But they expected him to be about to become inflamed, or to fall down dead suddenly, But over much time expecting and seeing nothing amiss happening to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.” (Act 28:3-6) When God shows up in signs and wonders it’s for God’s eternal purpose, to save mankind. Seeing miracles won’t save people, but shows Who God is. It gets their attention.

Let us pray:

Father God, Creator and Life of everything, Yahweh and the I Am, I believe in You. I believe You are Faithful. I believe You are Truth. I believe in Your Word. I believe in Your promises. I trust You and rely on You. Whatever doesn’t line up with Your Word and Your Promises in my life is because I am not lining up with You. Help me to see where I am coming short. Help me by Your Holy Spirit to line up with You. I am grateful for Your work in me. And I proclaim that I welcome Your work in me. Teach me until I do what You want me to do, until Your Word flows like honey from my lips, until I think only on You and until I am Who You want me to be. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, amen.