QT: Trust God precludes Accepting Help?

QT: Trust God precludes Accepting Help?

Trust God precludes Accepting Help?
https://www.esv.org/Ezra8:31–34
Week 22: 25/05/2023. Thu

Once in a while, we ask for armed escort to escort us on the road when we are delivering something valuable or sensitive. Not to ask for armed escorts might seem reckless, even breach of safety regulations.

Was it wrong for Ezra not to insist on an armed escort, especially when the goods that accompanied their return included about 22 metric tons of silver and 3.4 metric tons of gold?

Ezra 8:31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. (ESV)

God had protected them from all attacks from robbers and thugs along this dangerous route from Babylon to Jerusalem. This was indeed a miracle. We see again Ezra demonstrating his faith in God, and we see that God is able to protect His people even in dangerous situations.

Ezra already stated that he was too ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen (8:22). Or perhaps he thought that the king of Persia had already provided alot. Or perhaps it was well known that this trip was a "king endorsed" expedition—therefore hands off?

Whatever it is, we note that this decision was only made after (1) the fasted and (2) "implored our God for this", 8:23, and (3) God's people were acting in unison.

We see that wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit are required for these types of decision—accepting the economic and political policy help from the king, yet refusing military help in the same breadth. Nevertheless, God's people cannot demand that God protects them from all harm absolutely all the time. This must be left to God.

At all times, leave room for God's participation in your lives, so that He might have that room and space to do a miracle if His sovereign will decides to.