"A Great and Godly Leader" June 28 Readings: Ezra 7-10

Today's Reading - Ezra 7-10

Background

This passage primarily focuses on Ezra's prayer of confession because Israel was marrying foreign wives, risking returning to the sinful ways that had caused their downfall.

Devotional - A True Leader 

Ezra is one of the great men of Scripture. He comes from exile, returning to Jerusalem to lead Israel in its return to God. In Ezra 7-10, he finds the people of God returning to the sin of intermingling with the Canaanite people and intermarrying with them. Ezra demonstrates true leadership in guiding them to return to God and obedience. Let us examine some of the qualities that made Ezra a great leader.

1. Ezra was a man of God's word. 7:6

He was "skilled in the law of Moses" - a man of God's word. True leaders are not derived from their personality, creativity, or talent, but from their grounding in the teachings of the Bible.

2. Ezra was a man under God's blessing. 7:6

As a result of his obedience and fidelity to God and to his word, God put his hand of blessing on him and gave him favor with the king. No, obedience is no guarantee that we will always have smooth paths but God does have power over even pagan kings.

3. Ezra sought the glory of God. 8:21-23

Ezra led his group to fast and pray and seek the protection of God because he didn't want to ask the king for protection. He felt it would be an insult to God, showing God to be so weak that his people needed the help of a pagan king. Ezra's chief concern was not his own safety or well-being but the glory of God and this his name would be honored among the nations.

Great leaders do not seek to advance themselves but to lift high the name of Jesus.

4. Ezra shared the burden of leadership with others. 8:24-29

He was no lone ranger, but he shared the work God gave him with others. Paul was a great leader not only because of the work he did but because of the men he trained up to carry on when he was gone. A great leader not only does his work but includes others in the work.

5. Ezra confronted the sin of the people. 9:1-3

When he arrived and saw that the exiles who had returned to Jerusalem had also begun to return to the sins that had caused the fall of Jerusalem, he confronted that sin without compromise. He was not nit-picking or unnecessarily judgmental here. This was serious sin and he dealt with it directly.

A good leader must be patient and considerate as his people grow, but when there is blatant sin and rebellion he must confront it without fear.

6. Ezra led the people in confession. 9:4-15

He humbled himself before God and confessed sin. Leaders ought to be leaders not only in spiritual growth but in the acknowledgment and confession of sin.

7. Ezra led the people back to God. 10

That was his only goal, to bring the people into a right relationship with God and that was what he did. If a leader's goal is anything but bringing the people to God he will not be pleasing in God's eyes.

Ezra is one of the truly great men of Scripture because the glory of God and the good of the people he led was his only concern.

Father, make me like Ezra, who gloried in the honor of your name and who sought to bring people into a right relationship with you. 

Think and Pray

Examine the qualities of Ezra's life and leadership and see if they are true in your life.