A Brief Moment

A moment is brief, but it can be historic

“But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem.” (Ezra 9:8–9)

Do you think we remember life by significant moments? The ordinary passes as a blur, but then comes a moment when something happens that changes the trajectory of a day, a year, or a lifetime. A moment is brief, but it can be historic.

The opening words of Ezra 9:8 indicate the significance that can come in a brief moment. As Ezra prayed, he compared the power of one brief moment of God’s favor in contrast to the many years the Jews walked in disobedience. He recognized and acknowledged God’s grace at work enabling them to survive and return to their homeland.

Read Ezra 9:8–9. Packed into a few words you will see a lot of grace shown to the Jewish people. That grace secured their future (given a secure hold), encouraged their hearts (brighten our eyes), extended their hope (grant us a little reviving), renewed their purpose (set up the house of God), and promised their protection (to give us protection in Judea and Jerusalem).1

These folks had been in exile so long that they seem to have suffered some disorientation. They struggled to reconcile their identity from before the exile with their identity now that they have returned home. In Ezra’s prayer of confession, he connected the past to the present. He did not sugarcoat the struggles of the past, but reminded the people that God was with them even in the difficult times. Now, God is still with them to offer fresh courage to do the work of rebuilding the temple and restore worship to their God.2

Dear sister, do not discount the significance of a moment. The process of reintegration takes place moment by moment. Give the Lord the moments of your day and trust him to be your security, your hope, your purpose, and your protection.

Respond

Ezra 9:8–9 is a picture of God going the extra mile on behalf of the Jewish people. How have you seen God go the extra mile for you? What fresh courage is the Lord giving you for the work ahead?

Prayer for the Journey

Father, thank you for moments of grace that you have bestowed throughout my life. I never want to squander your grace or be unappreciative of your goodness. May I accept it all with gratitude. Amen.