Ezra 8:15-21

1. Ezra 8:15-21 15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there.

2. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I sent them to Iddo, the leader in Casiphia.

3. I told them what to say to Iddo and his kinsmen, the temple servants in Casiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God.

4. 18 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 men; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 men.

5. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name.

6. 21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.

7. Direction, Choice and ResponsibilityEzra 7 - 10 Where am I going? What should I do? Who’s fault is it?

8. Ezra 1 – 6 Kings and Chronicles The people ended up in Assyria and Babylon not by choice Defeated, captured and exiled. Ezra returns with the second group of the exiles

9. Some of us go willingly Some of us go for other reasons Some of us stay Some of us return It has always ben like this Sometimes we pick the direction and sometimes it picks happens us

10. I left Colombia 1973 East coast to West coast Mexico Japan Venezuela Philippines Israel Canada

11. When it’s time to do something… Some of us volunteer Some of us have to be asked, invited or dragged

12. Ezra7 13 Now I decree that any of the Israelites in my kingdom, including priests and Levites, who wish to go to Jerusalem with you, may go.

13. 28 …Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.

14. Calling College Career, Work or opportunity Lack of opportunity Invitation The only choice

15. Ezra 8 15 I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there.

16. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I sent them to Iddo, the leader in Casiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his kinsmen, the temple servants in Casiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God.

17. We do not always have a choice Our choices are often limited We do not know what we do not know

18. We like to believe we are not the problem The problem is out there somewhere We see it as being outside of us

19. Ezra 9 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites.

20. 2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”

21. It is very easy to identify the enemy Especially when we are sure the enemy is not us.

22. 15 O Lord, God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence.”

23. Ezra 10 44 All these had married foreign women, and some of them had children by these wives

24. The woman caught in adultery John chapter 8 Where was the man? Blame someone

25. The outsider and the foreigner where not excluded from Israel if they chose to believe Matthew 1:5 Ruth

26. When we take responsibility we can acknowledge that we are the problem That is why superficial changes… Geographical moves… And other half steps do not work

27. Putting in all together: Sometime we can control the steering wheel and sometimes we cannot Be at peace not knowing what direction our lives will take Enjoy wherever we might end up

28. Putting in all together: We may not have as much choice as we would like Sometimes choices are made for us Enjoy whatever you end up doing

29. Putting in all together: Own up to our sins, problems and shortcomings Stop blaming others for the way things turn out It may not be our fault or their fault either Chose to be responsible and learn from the mistakes we have made and are about to make

30. We can blame people for where you end up We can blame others for what you have to do Or we can accept responsibility Own them and learn from our mistakes Grow from them and through them

31. We are the Federated Church. Our Mission is to… Seek Christ, Serve Christ andShare Christ.