This is written by Jonathan Woodard, as a guest blogger to give Pastor Chuck a much-needed break from his faithfully-written blogs.

Ezra found himself in a peculiar place. In his discussions with the king of Babylon, he had rightfully boasted, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, …” But that meant that he had put himself out on a limb alone.

Because of that statement, he would be too ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and protection on his 4-month-long, king-approved journey to Jerusalem. If he asked for help, that would undo the reasoning he had used to excuse himself to go to Jerusalem. They needed God to be with them out on that limb.

So Ezra’s band of 1200 men and their families fasted, to humble themselves and ask for a safe journey. They were like slab of meat walking through a den of lions, because of all the gold and silver they were carrying for 4 months and over 1000 miles. Scary. 

Are any of you in a peculiar place because of your boasting in the Lord?

But Ezra 8:31-32 says they made it free and clear with God’s protection from the “enemies and bandits along the way.”