Ezra 7:14-26

The several features in this grant were all in favor of the church. And how strange would it seem did we not look deeper than the surface of the matter, and behold the Lord's hand in the direction, to view an idolatrous heathen giving assistance to the church of Jesus. John saw a wonder in heaven when he saw the earth helping the woman. Revelation 12:16. And surely it is a wonder which grace only can explain, when men become the unwilling instruments of accomplishing the very reverse of what they intend. Witness the sons of Jacob in their intended ruin of Joseph. And yet infinitely higher and more important, and never to be lost sight of, when the Jews crucified the Lord of life and glory, how little did they consider what blessings they became the instruments to accomplish! I have to call upon the Reader to admire and adore the Lord God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, for the wonderful change which must have been wrought in the minds of Artaxerxes and his princes, to favor the cause of God so very highly. Not only giving Ezra authority to take with him all as many as felt inclined to go up to Jerusalem, but also to grant him money so liberally to do all that was in his heart. And to impose upon all his subjects an obedience to whatever Ezra should demand in favor of the cause he was engaged in. Surely no higher proof can be required that the hearts of all men are at the Lord's disposal, and that like rivers of water he turneth them whithersoever he pleaseth. Proverbs 21:1.