Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Good Hands

Ezra 7:28
(He) has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Late last night, I savored a very pretty sight: my two boys were at the big dining table, one with an iPad, the other with his sketching mats, and each with a knee up to their chest. The mix of their quietness and the busyness of their hands amaze me. Once again, I fell in love with their artistry and how they were so passionate about it. I was just praising God for how He blessed them with good hands. I felt like Mary pondering it all in. I was proud and humbled at the same time.

Chapter 7 opened with the name Ezra, finally. The first verses gave us the list of his lineage, which was from Aaron, signifying his rightful place in the priestly office. It was a notable status - - if they weren’t in Babylon as captives. But Ezra was able to rise above their situation. His name became known and favored by Artaxerxes himself. Verse six noted ‘The king granted him everything he asked’. Further down the chapter, he was promised with government treasures and was given power to appoint magistrates and judges. He was even allowed to promote his faith amongst his people. I’m sure all the Jews during his time were so proud of him and rejoiced with him for all these favors.

So what’s behind the success story? Ezra was said to be a scribe well versed in the Scriptures. While everybody else were possibly whining and worrying and wandering around, he devoted himself to the study, observance and to the teaching of the Word. He became so good and skilled with it that his integrity reached the palace grounds and they soon sought God’s grace through him. But was it competence that brought him up there?   Ezra himself acknowledged it was the hand of the Lord on him. The good hands who created the world and who cares for everyone in it. The beautiful hands who formed my husband’s artistry and my son’s heart for it. Apart from His hands, there wouldn’t be any success story. Not one. This implies that if we have stories to tell, feats we achieved, heights we reached - - it wasn’t ours to glory in. We are to praise the Hands who did it all and deserve it most.
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Good Hands

Ezra 7:28
(He) has extended his good favor to me before the king and his advisers and all the king's powerful officials. Because the hand of the LORD my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

Late last night, I savored a very pretty sight: my two boys were at the big dining table, one with an iPad, the other with his sketching mats, and each with a knee up to their chest. The mix of their quietness and the busyness of their hands amaze me. Once again, I fell in love with their artistry and how they were so passionate about it. I was just praising God for how He blessed them with good hands. I felt like Mary pondering it all in. I was proud and humbled at the same time.

Chapter 7 opened with the name Ezra, finally. The first verses gave us the list of his lineage, which was from Aaron, signifying his rightful place in the priestly office. It was a notable status - - if they weren’t in Babylon as captives. But Ezra was able to rise above their situation. His name became known and favored by Artaxerxes himself. Verse six noted ‘The king granted him everything he asked’. Further down the chapter, he was promised with government treasures and was given power to appoint magistrates and judges. He was even allowed to promote his faith amongst his people. I’m sure all the Jews during his time were so proud of him and rejoiced with him for all these favors.

So what’s behind the success story? Ezra was said to be a scribe well versed in the Scriptures. While everybody else were possibly whining and worrying and wandering around, he devoted himself to the study, observance and to the teaching of the Word. He became so good and skilled with it that his integrity reached the palace grounds and they soon sought God’s grace through him. But was it competence that brought him up there?   Ezra himself acknowledged it was the hand of the Lord on him. The good hands who created the world and who cares for everyone in it. The beautiful hands who formed my husband’s artistry and my son’s heart for it. Apart from His hands, there wouldn’t be any success story. Not one. This implies that if we have stories to tell, feats we achieved, heights we reached - - it wasn’t ours to glory in. We are to praise the Hands who did it all and deserve it most.