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The How and The Why
Anytime we read scripture, we may be able to easily answer the Who, What, When, and Where, but it may not always be easy to spot the Why. Once we understand the Why we are able to apply God's Word to our lives. Many times, though, we cannot put God's Word into action unless we know the How.
Consider for a moment Ezra's return from Babylon to Jerusalem. We know the Who, When, and Where. As far as the What is concerned, three times in Ezra 7 it is said that the hand of the Lord was on Ezra and that favor followed him where ever he went. That got my attention. How much would I like the hand of the Lord to be on me so that I will experience His favor where ever I go? As great as that sounds, I need to understand why the Lord would give me favor. Is it just for my benefit or luxury? Or could it be for His purpose and pleasure, not my own?
In Ezra's case, he was charged with using the wisdom God had given to him to teach all those who don't know His Word. This was the reason God pulled Ezra out of eternity and put him there at that time. The hand of the Lord was on Ezra so that he could fulfill the purpose God had put on his life. So, there is the Why. Through the example of Ezra I can expect the hand of the Lord to be on me as I seek to follow the purpose He has placed on my life. It is for His glory, purpose, and pleasure, not mine.
Now for the How. Surprisingly, this is no great mystery. Ezra 7:9 ends with the words, "for the gracious hand of his God was on him." Immediately after this statement, Ezra is described as someone who was completely devoted to studying and living by God's Word. So, if the What is having the hand of the Lord on us so we can live under the blessing of His favor, then the Why is so that we can fulfill the purpose He has for each one of us. In order to do that, we simply need to follow Ezra's example of the How. Read His Word. Study it. Live by it. When we are completely devoted to Him, His hand will surely be with us.
Anytime we read scripture, we may be able to easily answer the Who, What, When, and Where, but it may not always be easy to spot the Why. Once we understand the Why we are able to apply God's Word to our lives. Many times, though, we cannot put God's Word into action unless we know the How.
Consider for a moment Ezra's return from Babylon to Jerusalem. We know the Who, When, and Where. As far as the What is concerned, three times in Ezra 7 it is said that the hand of the Lord was on Ezra and that favor followed him where ever he went. That got my attention. How much would I like the hand of the Lord to be on me so that I will experience His favor where ever I go? As great as that sounds, I need to understand why the Lord would give me favor. Is it just for my benefit or luxury? Or could it be for His purpose and pleasure, not my own?
In Ezra's case, he was charged with using the wisdom God had given to him to teach all those who don't know His Word. This was the reason God pulled Ezra out of eternity and put him there at that time. The hand of the Lord was on Ezra so that he could fulfill the purpose God had put on his life. So, there is the Why. Through the example of Ezra I can expect the hand of the Lord to be on me as I seek to follow the purpose He has placed on my life. It is for His glory, purpose, and pleasure, not mine.
Now for the How. Surprisingly, this is no great mystery. Ezra 7:9 ends with the words, "for the gracious hand of his God was on him." Immediately after this statement, Ezra is described as someone who was completely devoted to studying and living by God's Word. So, if the What is having the hand of the Lord on us so we can live under the blessing of His favor, then the Why is so that we can fulfill the purpose He has for each one of us. In order to do that, we simply need to follow Ezra's example of the How. Read His Word. Study it. Live by it. When we are completely devoted to Him, His hand will surely be with us.