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Long ago our high school football team was headed to face Paola High in a playoff game with state tournament implications. Our team was a massive underdog facing a Paola team that was favored to contend for the state championship. We were greeted by boos and chants to go back home, “The game is already over.” In overtime our tailback broke loose for a game-winning touchdown, upsetting the number one ranked team. To say the environment was hostile is an understatement. I remember making it to the bus with students lining the streets ready to boo, throw rocks, and run our bus off the road and out of town!

I remember one of our coaches telling the bus driver, “Whatever you do, just don’t stop and get us out of here.”

Have you ever been in an environment where hostility and chaos seize control while leaving you feeling vulnerable? Welcome to life post-exile as the children of Israel head back into their previously destroyed city.

A hostile home crowd doesn’t begin to capture the madness Ezra is leading people into. While the king began allowing re-entry, the residents and local leadership are 100% opposed to the return of the Jews. While leading the caravan of hopefuls back into the decimated city, Ezra feels the tension and danger of his oppressing neighbors. Instead of asking the king for chariots and warriors to protect him, he turns to the Lord in fasting and prayer. Ezra 8:23 resounds as the promise of God to the desperate ears of people approaching the hostile crowd, “So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.”

Ezra had declared the gracious hand of God was on them, and His first step proved it when it came time for action. Oftentimes we find ourselves talking about trusting God, but when the enemy wages attack, is that the first place we turn?

For Ezra it was, and God showed Himself faithful. The same God is calling us into a trusting relationship with Him. Whatever situation you find yourself in, make your first step to pray and trust God. He protects His children!