Part 3 – When Faith is Tested: The Power of Fasting and Prayer
Faith is easy to speak about when life is calm. But the real test of faith comes when we face uncertainty, fear, and the unknown journey ahead.
As they reached the river of Ahava, he took a pause thinking of the journey ahead, the people behind him and might have said to himself, can we ever reach to the land of Jerusalem which will still take about 1,400–1,600 km (870–1,000 miles)?
Because it is not just only he travelling. As the scripture records, he is travelling with:
Old
Adults
Teens
Young
Children
Infants
Leaders
Levites
These are not trained ones but just common people.
And besides all these they are also carrying the possessions given by the king: Ezra 8:25-27.
25 Then I weighed out to them silver and gold and the vessels, the offering of the house of our God that the king, his counselors, his commanders, and all of Israel who was present offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver, one hundred vessels of silver, one hundred talents of gold, 27 twenty gold bowls worth one thousand darics, and two vessels of good polished bronze as precious as gold. (LEB)
Now in total they are carrying $231 million in today’s currency.
They are concerned with types of lands they needs to travel. They have to travel through
- Deserts and barren lands which is easy an
Easy place for ambush.
No help nearby if attacked.
Risk of dehydration and exhaustion.
- They are concerned with the rivers and canals they needs to cross which can make them
Slow movement → easy target and also
Possibility of losing supplies.
- They are concerned as they have to travel through trade routes as they are well known for
hunting grounds for bandits. and
Criminal groups watched for wealthy caravans.
- They are concerned about the mountains and narrow roads, especially which are closer to Judah. Can make them give no chance of escaping in narrow spaces.
Besides all these he is also concerned with types of people they need to encounter. The scriptures says that there are enemies on their way.
Bandits and Raiders
Caravan Traders (Strangers)
Local Officials and Soldiers
Enemy countries like Samaria.
Seeing all these which are there ahead, their faith which once was strong began to shatter.
The fears which once had gone away when they decided to take a pause and ask God’s hand and guidance.
The journey which needed an earthly king’s help is no longer needed.
Ezra 8:21 records that he “proclaimed a fast there at the river Ahava”
To ask God about the fears he had.
To ask Him about the stumbling of his faith.
To tell God about the fears he had.
To tell God about the fears people had and to tell their inability to travel without His protection.
Despite the journey and the dangers ahead, they paused for 3 days and fasted to ask God what they need.
The safety which they get from the soldiers and horsemen is no longer needed.
I do not know your fears.
I do not know your weaknesses and do not know your wants and desires.
But God knows what you need and what you are going through.
No matter what, they only changes, when you come to Him with prayer and fasting.
When you do that, you can also like those Jews… telling the world that God has answered our prayers.
May God bless you all!
