Preparing Amid Problems

“This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.” (Ezr 7:6 AV)

 

 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” (Ezr 7:10 AV)

 

Note here something very important.  Ezra did not make himself a ready scribe when he was instructed to go from Babylon to Jerusalem.  Nor did he prepare himself once he heard he would be going.  He was a ready scribe and his heart was prepared while in captivity to the pagan government around him.  This is very telling of a man’s faith and integrity.  Jeremiah prophesied the exact length of the captivity for Judah.  It would be 70 years.  Ezra, being a scribe, would have known that.  So, when Cyrus decreed the return of the Jews to rebuild the temple, he would not have been surprised.  However, there was no prophecy that he would be among those to return.  When those who were named among the returning, he placed himself in such a situation as to be one of those blessed re-patriated Hebrew.  In short, Ezra did not allow the adverse circumstances of his life to hinder preparation for God’s use.  He did not allow the persecution or abuse to stop him from being prepared when the LORD called him.  This preparation amid adversity is the principle under consideration this morning.

We have endured many stories of the klondike derby here.  But we will have to endure at least one more.  For those unfamiliar, the Klondike derby was a weekend set aside in February when the Boy Scouts of a certain region would get together and compete amid harsh winter conditions.  Part of the competition was a dog sled race without the dogs.  That was the last competition.  The day starts with reveille.  Then each troop of boys would go from one station to another and compete in several skills.  From knot tying to first aid; from team building to fire building; or from survival skills to orienteering.  We would compete for the best times or the best skills.  Once a station was completed, the patrol (smaller group from the troop) would push their sled to the next station.  But before all that happens, the troops can report to the camping site the night before.  Friday night saw several young boys prepare and set up tents, cook supper, clean up, and get ready for bed.  This was a difficult task, to say the least.  One would think the task of setting up a camp is several feet of snow, clearing a site, finding firewood, cooking supper, and preparing our beds would have been work enough.  However, our Scoutmaster was not content.  When all was ready and we were all set for bed, he would have us drill and drill again.  We would prepare no matter the cold, snow, or winds that blew.  This wore us out and we never could finish at the top when the race came around.  But what it did was two things.  First, we would often win the skills competition, or at the very least, come in a close second.  This preparation amid adversity also toughened us up to spend a second night in the cold wilderness.  Something no other troop was willing to do.

When adversity comes we have one of two choices.  We can either wilt under it and allow the circumstance to dictate to us what we will or will not do, or, what we will or will not be.  We can sit idle and wait for the adversity to end.  Or, we can choose to overcome the adversity as best we can.  We can seek the strength of the LORD and prepare for the time when adversity will eventually end.  My mind cannot help but make the connection with how churches choose to respond to COVID.  We can either shut the doors and wait for the storm to pass.  Or, we can do what ministry is available, looking down the road knowing this too shall pass.  We can either continue and refocus our attention on what can be done, or we sit and wait for it all to be over.  Paul warns of the latter in his letter to the Thessalonians.  They were sitting on their rooftops waiting for the return of Jesus.  What a waste of time.  Sure, our ministry may be hindered in the manner we used to do it, but as long as the LORD is on the throne, there will still be a way to get it done.  So, let us pray for strength, integrity, hope, and faith.  Let us continue to prepare and be ready.  For, the opportunity may be just around the corner.