Week 21: God’s Will
Weekly Reading:
II Chronicles 32 - Nehemiah 7
Opening Prayer
Father God,
As we move into the week, give us the open heart to see Your will. Give us the wisdom to discern what is in Your will. Let us be open to Your blessings and Your correction. Only through You, Father, will we find peace and grace.
Amen
Study
We have all seen examples of it: God will make a way for what is in his will. As well, God will allow for obstacles for what is not in his will.
God wanted a family: He made a Way
God wanted to start over with Noah’s family: He made a Way
God wanted a father of a nation in Abraham: He made a Way
God wanted to move his people out of Egypt: He made a Way
There are no obstacles too great for God’s will.
While these examples are awesome in their might, God will show up in smaller ways too.
In Ezra, we see God fulfilling the prophecy He gave to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11 -12 and 29:10) (note: Ezra took place around 457–444 BC, the book of Jeremiah 627 BC almost 200 years prior to Ezra despite how the chapters are placed in our Bible today). Through King Cyrus, God commanded the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. On a voluntary basis, He released the Jewish exiles and the supplies, livestock, jewels, and precious metals (see Ezra 1).
The Jewish people worked to rebuild the temple and after the foundation was complete they sang to the Lord.
He is good!
His faithful love endures forever! (Ezra 3:10–11).
As with any great endeavor, the Israelites felt opposition from the enemies of Judah and Benjamin and then later from others in opposition which temporarily halted the construction (Ezra 4).
King Darius, who found the ancient scrolls of Cyrus, commanded that the Jews be allowed to rebuild and further that all expenses for the rebuild would be out of the royal treasury (Ezra 6:1-12). King Darius further stated that anyone against the rebuild, violating the decree, will be flogged and their home destroyed (Ezra 6:11).
Years later God blessed the temple rebuild greatly through Ezra’s leadership, under King Artaxerxes’ decree. The decree commissioned Ezra to take people, silver and gold for offerings and whatever else The God of Heaven demands (Ezra 7:11-26). The decree also condemns and punishes anyone who refused the decree and God‘s law.
Of course, as we read we see God continue to bless what is in His will. If we are open and obedient, we too will see the blessings God has provided in our lives.
When we follow God, blessings come, His will, His blessings. Where we struggle is confusing our will with God’s will, our desires with God’s desires. Sometimes God‘s desire is not the easy path
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14).
What we do see over and over again is that God makes a way for what is in His will. Let’s be open to God’s will, be obedient to God’s will, and the blessings His will brings.
Closing Prayer
Father God,
You know what is best for us in every situation. Guide us to see Your will and be obedient to You every day. You offer abundant grace to us daily. We love You, Father, for taking care of us and our needs.
Amen
Homework
Can you think of a time where your will interfered with God’s will?
What did you do? Were you obedient? What was the outcome?
