Archive for March 29th, 2010
Are you paying attention to how God, the ultimate leader, leads? (115-1)
The simple definition of a leader is a person who has influence. Most of us will have influence in our family, our workplace and maybe, if God decides we can be trusted, we may be given some degree of greater influence up to national leadership like the President or world leadership such as Billy Graham. By contrast, God is the only influencer of the universe. Read Ezra 1:2.
The Jewish people would not turn from idol worship, a violation of their covenant with the one true God, and as a result, God withdrew His protection. The Babylonian army captured Jerusalem, destroyed the temple and carried most of the people into captivity in Babylon. The Babylonians were ultimately defeated by the Persian army and the exiled Jews were now under the rule of Cyrus the Persian king. The book of Ezra picks up near the end of their 70-year exile when God is about to move in the hearts of national leaders and allow his people to return to the land of Judah.