Ezra’s principles 2 Week 43, 2026

 So what is the second principle?

It is found in Ezr 8:16-17(ESV) Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight,   and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.

I see a long list of names, what principle are we to glean from here?

Delegation. Ezra could have left the company at the River Ahava to get the needed Levites himself, but chose rather to send others to do the work.

So what is to be gained by that? Are you unaware of the saying, “If you want something to be well done, do it yourself?” I have heard you say you had to take matters personal to get things well done at the hospital. Practice what you preach

 When you delegate you involve people in the work and they take ownership. It makes it a “we” thing and not a “them” matter. If you never delegate who will carry on after you? And how will they learn? But it isn’t just blind delegation. You must carefully choose who you delegate. Ezra went for leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight to help with the work. These are qualities to identify before delegating. Moses also delegated to men with such qualities in Ex 18:21(ESV)  Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs… I do delegate my brother.

Did you notice what happened in Act 6:3(ESV)?  Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. All the men they chose to solve a matter between Hebrews and Hellenists were all Hellenists! I know so because all seven had Greek names. Act 6:5(ESV) And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. That’s the kind of thing you get by delegating!

Some level of input by the person you delegate things to is inevitable, yet that may not make the person unfaithful by such inputs. In delegating what matters most is that the principles you gave must be followed. Never delegate without giving the person(s) clear principles to follow. The request was followed to the letter, and  seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom came forth. Ezra specified where they were to go - the place Casiphia, who they were to meet - Iddo and his brothers and the temple servants, and what the assignment was  - bring Levites. Once they followed that, the results were endorsed in Ezra’s time as well as in the apostles'. Act6:6(ESV) These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. Getting the flavour of the messenger is normal even in Christian service. Even when a prophet speaks expressly from God the accent of the prophet is heard. It does not make the prophecy fake.