Share Life: 40 days of Prayer

Day 10 - March 3rd 2007

Ezra 7:11-22

Why does this king suddenly decide to show such great interest in the Jews, granting incredible power and autonomy to Ezra to do ‘whatever is commanded by the God of heaven...”? The answer comes with a little study of genealogies and chronologies. I won’t bore you with details, but scholars indicate that Esther had married this king just a few months prior, and that her influence was undoubtedly critical in the king’s decree.

One never knows what’s going on behind the scenes that contribute to the creation of ‘open doors’, but if one believes that God is active in the affairs of history, then the signs are there to see. God brings people into situations, and each person brings their story, their perceptions. All of this creates a sort of ‘chemical reaction’ a cause and effect, if you will. In this, we all agree. Where people are divided is in the matter of whether God has any role at all in the bringing together of people and perceptions, or whether it’s all random.

Francis Schaeffer said it well: “The universe consists of the laws of cause and effect in an OPEN system.” In other words, lots of things just happen – but all events are open to intrusion by the creator, so that His purposes might stand. You needn’t agree, but if the system is wholly closed…if every event is already completely pre-determined, why pray?

The scriptures teach that God is no watchmaker who, having set it all in motion, now sits passively awaiting an unknown future. On the other hand, neither are we puppets on strings, doing his bidding against our will. Cause and Effect – Open System. Live with the mystery!

King of the Universe, give us eyes to see when your hand is moving in clear ways towards a desired end. Give us courage to pray for your intrusion into history. Give us wisdom when you seem silent. In Your Mysterious Name, Amen.

posted by Richard Dahlstrom @ 3:01 PM