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Ezra 7 – Praying through the Bible #144 – A Prayer of a Qualified Man
“God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.” Ever hear that? Along those lines, good hearted people encourage others by showing the shortcomings of God’s greatest servants: Abraham was a liar; Sarah a mocker; Jacob a cheater; Moses an excuse maker; Miriam a racist; David a sex maniac; Jonah was prejudiced; Gideon was insecure; Martha a worrier; and Paul a murderer. If we want to get really dramatic we could even say God called Lazarus and Lazarus was dead! Moving from morally unqualified to technically unqualified, Jesus called the untrained to be His apostles. Four were fishermen, another a Roman sympathizer and Jewish traitor who collected taxes, and even a revolutionary political zealot. No wonder people triumphantly proclaim, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called!” But is this always true? Does God sometimes call the qualified?
Ezra is a priest (Ezra 7.1-5), and teacher; “a scribe skilled in the law of Moses” (7.6). No doubt such took many hours of discipline and diligent study. The record also says Ezra possessed that which was beyond his control: “The king had granted him everything he requested because the hand of Yahweh his God was on him” (7.6). After being divinely chosen to return to Jerusalem, God’s servant makes the 500 mile, 4 month trek from Babylon (7.9). “The gracious hand of God was on him” (7.9). Despite his qualifications, this is the second mention of God being the reason for Ezra’s achievements.
Ezra had prepared himself both morally and technically: “Now Ezra had determined in his heart to study the law of the LORD, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel” (7.10). When Ezra makes the trip, he comes with a letter from the king (7.11-26). Again, Ezra is prepared for succeeding in God’s work.
When Ezra reaches the re-promised land, he prays: “Praise Yahweh the God of our fathers, who has put it into the king’s mind to glorify the house of the LORD in Jerusalem, and who has shown favor to me before the king, his counselors, and all his powerful officers” (7.27-28). Then Ezra adds, “So I took courage because I was strengthened by Yahweh my God, and I gathered Israelite leaders to return with me.” Ezra became qualified to be called; and still gave all glory to God.
Nowadays it seems we emphasize an unbalanced biblical view. Now the spiritual plan is to not have a plan; just “walk by faith and not by sight” (a misuse of that text). It seems we are afraid that if we get qualified, we are getting the credit. Somehow we have been convinced faith and humility means not preparing, not making plans, and not doing whatever is in our power. Sure, there are times to spiritually “wing it,” relying totally on God. But when we can prepare, we can still rely totally on God. So while God qualifies the called; God also calls the qualified.
Prayer Challenge: Pray to be qualified while giving God all the credit and glory.
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