Ezra 8:1; Ezra 8:15-30
The assembly takes place by the river Ahava. To complete his company, Ezra has to send for some Levites. "The labourers are few" and "the harvest is plenteous" the Lord announced to His disciples (Matthew 9:37). Today, He still notices all the redeemed on the earth and takes account of those among them who are truly willing to serve Him.
Is everything now ready for the departure? No; one essential thing is still missing! Just as a traveller does not set off without studying the map, Ezra needs to know the path which he must follow, and he consults the LORD. "The right way for us and our children" – is that not the way of complete obedience to God? Christ was the first to mark it out in this world (1 Peter 2:21), so that the Bible, which displays to us the perfect steps of His pathway, becomes in a sense a "road map" for us. Alas, we often miss the true, safe path, because we go astray on the wrong tracks of our own self-will!
Humility, dependence, confidence in God rather than in man: we learn so many blessed lessons in Ezra’s company . . . or rather, in the company of the Lord Jesus.