And now for a little moment grace hath been showed from Jehovah our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8
Have you been shown grace from God? I have been, and so have you. God has been showing and offering his grace since the beginning. Here in Ezra 9:8, Ezra is telling us how the Israelites have been shown the grace of our Jehovah God. God gave the Israelites the grace he didn’t desert them; he allowed them to be in bondage. This group was a remnant, seventy years in exile. A remnant means a small group that is not extinguished. Only a pure and separate “remnant” was for God’s plan. The plan of redemption. They sustained through this time of captivity. The Israelites would be restored to their land, nation, city, worship, inheritances, and home.
This Ezra’s prayer is based on several theological premises. The first one is God makes ethical demands on his people. Second, is God’s righteousness requires punishment for transgression, and he even uses other nations to punish his own people. Third, God is merciful, forgiving sin and making provisions for salvation and restoration.
God’s grace is mysterious. Let’s take a journey into what grace means or is. “unmerited” then means to receive something that you did not earn or something that you do not deserve. In the same way, “unconditional” means that something is not limited by conditions, such as our good behavior. We don’t have to do anything to earn God’s grace. We don’t have to do anything to have His unconditional love. It is there for us to accept and then to follow His ways wholeheartedly after Him.
Have you seen His Grace?
Dear Heavenly Father
Thank you for your grace and unconditional love for every one of us. I pray that we will keep looking to you and how you want us to live for you.
In Jesus Name
Amen
