A Leadership Lesson From Ezra

By Reverend Michael Farias

It’s always exciting to begin something new.  Whether it’s a new job, a new idea, or a new dimension of ministry that God is calling you to, the excitement is usually coupled with some apprehension, and maybe even anxiety.

Ezra was no exception to this.

Ezra was embarking on a new adventure because of his relationship with God.  He was about to take an extended journey and participate in the restoration and rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.

How exciting to be the guy who would bring with him expertise and knowledge pertaining to the Word of God!  Ezra was a scribe, an expert in the Law of the Lord.

The whole mission of rebuilding the temple was positioned for success.  The reigning king had provided all of the financial resources for the project, and had commissioned all the manpower needed.  It seemed that nothing was lacking.

 This Ezra came up from Babylon; and he was a skilled scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The king granted him all his requests, according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him.  Ezra 7:6 

Every request he made to the king was granted.  With his shopping list fulfilled, his team by his side, his bags packed, and the transportation ready to go, Ezra was fully prepared to make it happen.

It’s not hard for me to imagine the zeal and energy level that one experiences when God sets before us a new mission or model.  I have been there many times and seem to connect well with others who are prone to lead. 

Even though, like Ezra, we prepare our hearts for what is going to be next in our life and ministry, we must take another step of preparation before we embark.

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.  Ezra 7:10 

In spite of having the call to go, and having the products in the warehouse, the money in bank, and the staff on board, there was something missing.

Now I gathered them (the team) by the river that flows to Ahava, and we camped there three days.  Ezra 8:15 

What ?   They camped out for three days?  Why?  With what purpose?  Why the hold up?  I’m sure the whole team was fired up and ready to go, but not so fast. 

One of the hardest things for me to do is to wait.  If you’re wired at all like I am, you also have the same struggle, but there is a leadership lesson here from Ezra.  I know that the initiative that God has put on your plate compels you and drives you.  I know it is difficult to wait because you have already prepared your heart for the mission.  Asking you to wait might feel like tearing part of your heart out.  I cannot think of a more important or invigorating assignment than that which was given to Ezra, yet he had the wisdom to wait three whole days.

What did he do during the three-day wait?   Let’s look and learn. 

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.  Ezra 8:21 

Ezra realized that his preparation was incomplete, so he proclaimed a fast, that they might go forward with humbleness instead of cockiness.

It’s so easy to proceed without being humble, especially when every provision is at hand.  We can become self-assured and self-reliant.  Fasting and prayer are necessary parts of the preparation to keep our priorities in line.

He knew they needed to seek God for the right way to do things, for the benefit of everyone involved, and for the success of the mission. 

Even though we may have the best plans and strategies on paper, we need to make sure that the plans and strategies we incorporate are those that come from the Lord.  Consideration for the possessions, or Kingdom assets, was also a concern for Ezra.

Ezra wasn’t fully prepared until he stopped the momentum and took the time to fast and seek the Lord.  Now he and the team were ready.

 “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” Says the Lord of hosts.  Zechariah 4:6  

If you have received your next mission and are anxious to get started, be sure that you have stopped and sought the Lord before the momentum changes your priorities. God’s time is the perfect time, and we must learn to wait.