Old Testament: Ezra 7.7–9

To read the Bible in a year, read Ezra 6–8 on June 14, In the year of our Lord 2022

By Don Ruhl 

It is hard to imagine how long it used to take to travel before the invention of the automobile, the airplane, or the train. Notice how long it took for Ezra to travel from Babylon to Jerusalem: 

Some of the children of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim came up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes. And Ezra came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. On the first day of the first month he began his journey from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.

– Ezra 7.7–9 

It took him four months, but today that journey would require only 13 hours driving time and much fewer flying. Either way, the good hand of God was upon Ezra and is upon us as we travel. 

Questions: 

• Have you traveled 100 miles or more on foot or horseback? 
• Do you pray about your travels? 

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