* Luis Alberto Alves
Another purpose of fasting is for protection. Not only from our family members, but also from the general population. This is very clear when Ezra proclaims fasting for the return of the people who were returning from captivity. In Ezra chapter 8, verses 21-23, he proclaims fasting so that people would humble themselves before the Lord for the Jews' journey to be able to return safely from Babylon.
The interesting thing about this text is that Ezra is stressed that he felt ashamed to ask for the protection of soldiers to guard them on this trip back to Jerusalem. Ezra prayed, "The good hand of our God is upon all who seek, but his power and his anger are against all who forsake him." That is why we fast, we prayed for this blessing to our Lord, and he answered us.
But what is the reason why the people went into captivity in Babylon? There is no problem without cause. Even warned by God, the Jews rebelled against the Lord, adopting behavior that He reproved. As the popular saying goes, "They paid to see!" When we act this way, soon comes the result of this bad choice.
After the suffering of 70 years in Babylon, suffering various evils and forbidden to worship God, felt in the skin the effects of rebellion. But when the king let them return to Jerusalem, Ezra cried to the Lord by fasting, that the return would be safe and communion with God would be restored.
* Luis Alberto Alves is a pastor
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