In the traditional Chinese family culture, the Chinese idiom “重男轻女” which means outright favoritism of sons over daughters is the reason that my brother and I were the youngest. My grandmother insisted that my parents needed to have sons. My parents had their first child but it was a girl. Then the second came but it was still a girl. This went on and thus, I have five older sisters. Finally, on their sixth attempt, my brother arrived. It was nice that they did not stop at six but they went on to have their number seven, which was me. Otherwise I would not be here today.

The English word “favoritism” is a negative word like the example I gave. It refers to unfair support shown especially by someone in authority. Here is a reminder for parents that we must show equal love and care to all our children.

Unlike man, God does not show favoritism. Peter says in Acts 10:34-35, “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality or favoritism, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” So, on one hand, God does not show favoritism. Yet on the other hand, God grants favor through His divine providence and by blessing those who humble themselves before Him.

Ezra chapter 8 is a classic example of how the returning exiles were being shown the favor of God. This chapter depicts the second return from their exile in Babylon. This is a much smaller group than the first return in chapter 2. Based on the numerical figures in 8:1-14 and 2:1-70, the second return led by Ezra is only about 2000 Jews compared to the first return under Zerubbabel, about 50,000 Jews, respectively.

Interestingly, the favor that God granted them is being expressed three times by the phrase, “the hand, or the good hand of our God.” The phrase, “the hand of God” is also interestingly being used three times in Ezra 7:6, 9, 28 about how and why God handpicked Ezra to lead the 2 return through granting the favor from the Persian king Artaxerxes in letting them return. Chapter 8 then describes how they planned and executed the journey. The frequent usage of the phrase “the hand of God” highlights God’s favor from the beginning when God chose Ezra to the end when they arrived safely in Jerusalem. God’s favor is shown to the Jews by first, providing the Levites whom they need to handle the things in God’s temple and second, protecting them for a safe return from Babylon to Jerusalem.

Among ourselves in our prayers, we may sometimes ask God for His favor in our petitions - such as asking His favor upon our children as they take their exam, asking God for His favor as we hope to clinch a business deal this week. The list can go on. My brothers and sisters, it is perfectly all right to come before God and ask for His favor. But what exactly does God look for in us before He says yes and grants us His divine favor according to His will? God’s favor is shown to His followers according to His will, especially when we humble ourselves before Him by being sensitive to sin and obeying His word (Isa 66:2).

Ezra was a good example of a man who humbles himself before His God and God takes delight in Him. He was a scribe by profession and not a governor like Zerubbabel who led the first return. In the last verse 28 of Ezra chapter 7, Ezra wrote in first person pronoun of himself taking courage to gather the Jews for the second return. There were some fears or uncertainties that he faced. We got to appreciate his reservation when we read about the challenges he faced in chapter 8 concerning the lack of Levites and the safety of the journey. But as Ezra humbled himself before God, the hand of God was on him. We mentioned this phrase “the hand of God” earlier that Ezra himself testified. It was used 3 times in chapter 7 and 3 times in chapter 8 - a total of 6 times!

PRAYER : Dear God, you said in your Word, You oppose the proud but You grant grace to those who are humble. And we thank you, O Lord, for the many favors and blessings you have poured in our lives. It is our prayer that you continue to teach us to remain humble before You so that we would not be found in opposition to You and Your will. I confess to you now that I was proud [be specific concerning when, where, how or why you were proud against God] and sinned against You. Thank you for forgiving the sin of my pride. In Jesus name. Amen.