01-18-2026 Risking It All on God
Text: Ezra 8:21-23
Today we’re going to take a look in the Old Testament at a man named Ezra. Ezra, whose name means ‘help,’ was a priest, a scribe, and a great leader. His whole life was dedicated to serving God and God’s people. Tradition says that Ezra wrote most of the Old Testament books of I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Psalm 119, which is the longest Psalm, and that he led the council of 120 men who compiled the Old Testament canon. The book of Ezra continues the history of the Jewish people and records their return to their homeland after their captivity in Babylon.
Our text this morning is from Ezra chapter 8, verses 21-23 which say: “ (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 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 who seek Him; but His power and His wrath is against all them who forsake Him. (23) So we fasted and besought our God for this: and He was intreated of us.”
Before making all the physical preparations for their journey, Ezra made spiritual preparation. The returning exiles’ prayers and fasting prepared them spiritually by showing their dependence on God for protection, their faith that God was in control, and their acknowledgment that they weren’t strong enough to make the trip without Him.
Ezra and his people traveled approximately 900 miles on foot. The trip took them through dangerous and difficult territory and lasted about four months. They prayed that God would give them a safe journey. They experienced a situation at the river Ahava that gave them reasons to fear for their lives because they knew they were in danger. Ezra’s response was to lead his people in seeking God. We see in verse 21 that this was a time for desperate praying as their lives, the lives of their children, and their possessions were all in danger. Everything precious to them was on the line.
Verse 22 shows us how Ezra led his people in surrendering to God. The king of Persia could have helped them and soldiers could have been their way out of the situation they found themselves facing. But in this case, the people’s testimony for God was at stake. Afterall they had told the king of God’s power, and they testified of God’s faithfulness in the past. So instead of relying on human intervention to save them, they chose to risk it all on God.
Because of their faithfulness, we learn in verse 23 that God saved Ezra and his people. He knew that God promises to protect his people, but he didn’t take that promise for granted. He also knew that God’s blessing are given to them through submission to God; so Ezra and the people humbled themselves by fasting and praying. And at the Ahava River their prayers were answered. Fasting humbled them because going without food was a reminder of their complete dependence on God. It also gave them more time to pray and meditate on God and to focus on why they were praying. God meets His people where they are
Ezra was one of many Old Testament heroes of faith that turned to God in desperate times. David said in Psalm 27:8, “Thy face, Lord, will I seek.” Isaiah said in Isaiah 26:9 “With my soul will I seek Thee.” And Daniel said in Daniel 9:3 “Seek by prayer…with fasting,” We’re told in Jermiah 29:13 that those who earnestly seek God will find Him. Like Ezra, we too need to faithfully look to God and look up. God loves His children and will always be there for us.
Today’s text is a picture of our lives are like after we have accepted salvation through Jesus Christ. We’re in constant danger because of our sin and Satan’s desire to turn us away from God. When we face difficult times in our lives, we have to let resist letting our fear over the future take over our hearts. Human nature trains us to look to people for help instead of God. But when we take time to put God first in everything in our lives, we’re preparing well for whatever lies ahead whether it be good or bad. Like Ezra, we need to always seek God and rely on Him to get us through everything.
Our lives may not be as difficult and dangerous as Ezra’s, but we should always recognize our need to ask God for guidance and protection wherever we go and in whatever we experience. We all go through periods of fear and worry throughout our lives. You may experience anxiety over depression and other things that stress you and cause you to struggle. But anxiety and stress robs you of your joy, peace, and good health. So what should you do? Do what Ezra did. Trust God not humans when the situation is serious. Expect that God will come through every time you need Him. Find God through faith in His Son Jesus. Pray for Him to help you, then trust fully that He will?
Too often we pray glibly and superficially. We must be serious when we pray. Serious prayer requires concentration. It’s what puts us in touch with God’s will and can really change us. Without serious prayer, we reduce God to a divine drive-through pharmacist who can give us painkillers for our compliant of the day.
When you find yourself in a place of danger do you trust that God does love you and will come through for you? If not take time to examine your relationship with Him. If you’re taking Him for granted, stop and take time to reflect on your relationship with Him, then thank Him often for all that He has done and will do for you. Thank Him for the blessings He has already given you and have faith that He will continue to provide blessings and needed help to you in the future. Allow Jesus and the Holy Spirit to guide you every single moment of your life and not just when you find yourself in difficult situations. When you make it a point to trust God in everything you will come to realize that nothing can pull you away from Him and any anxiety and worry you have will become a thing of the past.
This morning I would like to challenge each one of you to risk it all on God. As soon as you wake up each day, before you get out of bed, thank God for loving you and getting you through the night. Then ask Him to stay close to you and protect you against whatever may be thrown your path to pull you away from Him. Ask for wisdom and strength in all your decision making and to allow you to be a blessing to others in whatever situation He may put you. Then get out of bed believing that He will do all this for you. If you do this every day, I can guarantee that you will have a day of less anxiety, stress, and difficulties.
Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.