October 7th, 25: Ezra’s Journey Home and the Gracious Hand of God

Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible! In today’s episode, host Hunter guides us through a meaningful journey in Scripture, as we open the pages of Ezra chapters 7 and 8, and finish with Luke 20. As Hunter reads and reflects, we follow Ezra leading the Israelites out of Babylon—a profound echo of the Exodus led by Moses—as God’s gracious hand brings his people home after years of exile. We’ll also hear Jesus challenging religious leaders in Jerusalem, teaching about divine authority, true obedience, and the promise of resurrection.

Throughout the episode, Hunter explores the powerful theme of exodus—moving from captivity to freedom, from the kingdoms of this world into God’s kingdom through Christ. We’re invited to see how God’s mercy and deliverance reach across generations, guiding us homeward today just as surely as they did for Ezra and the Israelites.

Settle in as we listen, pray, and are reminded that God’s gracious hand is still upon his people, leading us toward his love, mercy, and true life. Let’s set our hearts homeward together on this October 7th edition of the Daily Radio Bible.

TODAY'S DEVOTION:

Ezra is leading an Exodus. As Moses led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, Ezra is leading an exodus out of Babylon. He’s going home. For 70 long years, the Israelites were held captive in Babylon. Now the tide's turned. God has once again shown himself strong, and the kings of the day are now bowing in deference to the God of Israel. They’re actually paying for their subjects to leave. The theme of Exodus is perhaps the most profound and significant theme that we read throughout all of Scripture. God is performing a grand exodus – He’s taking people from the kingdoms of this world into the kingdom of our God in Christ. When God’s gracious hand of deliverance is on his people, nothing can stop him.

It may take some time—maybe 70 long years—but when the tide of God’s mercy has shifted, when the flood comes in, there’s nothing that will stop it. The gracious hand of our God was always upon Ezra, but now it is evident for all to see. Ezra was trusting. He was faithful. He was obedient, long before King Artaxerxes had his change of mind and heart.

Jesus, too, is leading an Exodus. But he is far greater than Moses. He’s far greater than Ezra. And God’s gracious hand is certainly on his Son, Jesus—the Father exclaimed on multiple occasions: “This is my Son, whom I love.” People of every tribe and nation and language from every place on planet Earth are being led out and onto an exodus into life. In him, the destination is ultimately the same for all of us. We’re all headed back to that new Jerusalem in God’s new kingdom with our new King, our Liberator, our Jesus. Greater than Moses, greater than Ezra—He’s leading us back home.

There may be days of great confusion and heartache, and lots of questions along the way, but rest assured: we are headed home. God is leading this exodus. And as we read in this story, they volunteered to go—it was open and available for everyone to return. So sign yourself up today, to walk with him as we walk with him. God’s gracious hand is upon the Son, and we are in him.

So that gracious hand is upon you too. And this becomes more and more evident in our lives the more we set our hearts toward home. So let’s set our hearts homeward. Be swept up in the tide of mercy and love that is yours today. And know his gracious hand is upon you.

That’s the prayer that I have for my own soul today. That’s the prayer that I have for my family, for my wife and my daughters and my son. And that’s the prayer that I have for you.

May it be so.