The Goodness Of God
Ezra 8:22 says, “For I was ashamed to require of 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 that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.”
Ezra was accompanied by a group of men (v. 1), who returned from captivity in Babylon and Persia to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:11). He “was ashamed to require” the Persian king Artaxerxes for “a band of soldiers and horsemen” to protect them in their long journey. Because Ezra did not want the king to think that the God of Israel would not be able to protect His own people! He also did not want to trust “in man, and maketh flesh his arm” (Jer 17:5), in a matter that obviously belongs to the Lord! Instead, Ezra trusted in the goodness of God upon all them “that seek Him.”
God said it Himself that He is “merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (Ex 34:6). He is always good to us, not because we are good, since “there is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Rom 3:12). However, we experience God’s goodness because He delights in giving us “every good gift and every perfect gift” (Jms 1:17). He bestowed His marvelous grace upon us (Eph 2:8), “in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). And when we received His gift of salvation “through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 3:15), He lovingly embraced us with His amazing love (1 Jn 3:1), and made us “joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17)!
He promised to supply all our needs (Php 4:19). And even when we experience the trials and troubles of life, He remains present to unfold His goodness by giving us peace “which passeth all understanding” (Php 4:7); wherein we “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet 1:8). May we always cherish God’s goodness and His love in action! God bless you!
- Pastor Melito Barrera
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