God will protect our work . . .

. . . and our families, too.
We can trust Him to do this.
And we honor Him when we do.
Let's look again at chapter eight of Ezra, OK?

I think it might have been interesting to have been one of the oxen yoked to a cart, observing the group camped by the canal . . .
Ezra: "Well, we have our worship leaders and our temple helpers now, so it's almost time to leave. Y'all need to be packing up and making snacks for the trip tomorrow."
People: "What?"
             "Aren't we going to have an escort?"
             "Yeah, you mean we will leave when the armed guards are here,
               right, Ezra?"
Ezra: "Uh, no."
The Bible doesn't show us any of that. I'd kinda like to know how Ezra broke the news to them! And I'd like to know if once they heard the news, they had any comments? (Grin)

Here's how it would have gone in today's world:
Ezra: "Well, we have our worship leaders and our temple helpers, now, so it's almost time to leave. Y'all need to be packing up and making snacks for the trip tomorrow. We won't be waiting for an armed guard, but setting out alone at dawn."
People:  "Not me! I didn't sign up for this!"
              "I'm bailing out! You're crazy!"
              "As the chairman of the relocation committee, I must protest. Sister
               Hepzibah tells me that her family relations were attacked by robbers
               near here!"
              "As chairman of the finance committee, I must warn you for your
                own sake, Ezra, we must not go without guards! We have silver
                and gold for the temple!"
              "Ezra, are you nuts? Our worship teams aren't used to this!"
              "It's suicide, that's what it is!"

And so on, and so on . . . .
But apparently, no one protested.
Maybe this is why:

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. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. (Ezra 8:21-23)

We're not sure how, but apparently God gave Ezra peace about this. They humbled themselves and fasted, and they prayed for a safe journey.  Ezra felt strongly about this because he had assured the king that they'd be safe -- that the hand of their God was "on everyone who looks to Him," and because of that, they'd not be needing a military escort.
Robbers?
No worries.
Wild animals?
No problem.
He had great faith in God that He would deliver them, their children, and their possessions from the enemy and any ambushes along the way.
And he was right! Look at verse 31:

  On the twelfth day of the first month we set out from the Ahava Canal to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he protected us from enemies and bandits along the way.  (v 31)           

When we study in Nehemiah, we will see that he accepted the king's protection for his trip. We will also see that there's nothing there to say that he was lacking in faith to do so. Some people will ask, when is it wrong to use human means - in addition to trusting our God?

Probably the best thing to do is to trust God while thankfully employing the means that He does provide for us. Here's what this means: we pray for safe travels while we fasten our seat belt (and drive carefully!). We pray for His healing, but we take the medicine that the doctor suggested for us. I think that God expects us to use the means that He provides, along with trusting and having faith in Him. Does that make sense?

I guess what people worry about, and indeed, what we must guard against, is that sometimes using what's available to us by human means can lead us away from trust in the Lord. Or, it can be a poor witness to unbelievers. I think this is why Ezra rejected the king's soldiers for escort duty. He wanted to witness, even in this way, to the pagan king.
Oftentimes, people will make their needs known only to the Lord in prayer. They feel strongly that they are honoring God by demonstrating this faith in Him to meet their needs. Others reveal their needs to people around them, all the while trusting God to make a way for things to be resolved - either by His mighty hand, or by the help of other believers. I don't think there is a "right" or "wrong" here - just a reminder that we must make certain we are seeking to honor God, and that we are putting our trust in Him. He can choose the way to solve the problems!

I believe that this portion of the eighth chapter of Ezra is highlighting for us the need to recognize there will be enemies along our path; there will even be ambushes along our way. As believers who are seeking to do the work of Him Who saved us, we desperately need His "hand upon us" to protect us. Why?  The enemy is seeking not only to destroy our work for the Lord, but to destroy our families....our children....our "children" in the faith. He will do this by tearing apart families, by estranging children and parents, by toppling our leaders, and by slandering our testimonies. 

Knowing that Satan is prowling about, we must humble ourselves and seek the protection that God promises. God will bless our work for Him, and will protect our work and our families when we honor Him with our faith and trust.