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“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance” (Ezra 8:21).
Ezra was a godly man, a Jew, who lived in the Persian empire during the reign of Artaxerxes. The king had given him permission to go back to the land of Israel, and a number of other Jewish people went with him. This was in the year 458 B.C. It was a long journey, and they were concerned about their safety. They camped by the river that flowed to Ahava for several days, and asked the Lord for guidance. The river of Ahava was probably a canal that flowed from the Euphrates River to Ahava, to provide water for the town.
Ezra was concerned that everything in their lives might be done in a right way, whether it concerned themselves, or their children, or what they owned. It should be the same way with us. We are approaching the end of another year, and if the Lord leaves us here, we will be starting a new year soon. It is important to ask the Lord for His help and direction for every part of our lives. When we are walking in the path of His choosing, we can count on His help and protection.
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