金妮．希斯洛普（Ginnie Hislop）在2024年獲頒碩士學位證書時，所有人都起立發出熱烈的掌聲。這是為什麼呢？因她早在84年前就已完成所有課程！在1941年，她只需提交論文就可獲得碩士學位。但二戰爆發，她的男友喬治忽然被徵召入伍。他們倆很快就結了婚，一同前往喬治服役的軍事基地，拋下金妮幾乎就要到手的學位。在經過漫長的停頓後，高齡的金妮終於取得多年前未能完成的學位。

以斯拉可說是一名聖經學者，真正擁有上帝律法方面的「高級學位」。多年來，他一直等候從被擄之地巴比倫返回耶路撒冷。聖經說：「以斯拉定志考究遵行耶和華的律法，又將律例、典章教訓以色列人」（以斯拉記7章10節）。數十年前，所羅巴伯和一群被擄的以色列民已經獲准從巴比倫返回耶路撒冷重建聖殿（2章1-2節）。如今，以斯拉有「上帝施恩的手幫助他」（7章9節），帶領更多被擄的人返回耶路撒冷。上帝使用以斯拉，讓他按照聖經來改革和恢復百姓對上帝正確的敬拜：「以斯拉……在眾民眼前展開[律法書]……眾民……就低頭，面伏於地，敬拜耶和華。」（尼希米記8章5-6節）

以斯拉雖然等待了數十年，但他靠著上帝的能力，完成上帝對他的呼召。讓我們也倚靠上帝的大能，堅持到底，完成祂交付我們的工作。

Ginnie Hislop received a standing ovation as she received her master’s degree in 2024. Why? It came eighty-four years after she’d completed her coursework! In 1941, she needed only to submit her thesis. But her then boyfriend, George, was suddenly called to serve during World War II. The two quickly married and headed to his army outpost—leaving Ginnie’s nearly realized degree behind. But after a lengthy pause, she was finally able to complete what she’d started.

Ezra was a student of Scripture—one who truly had an “advanced degree” in God’s law—who’d been waiting years to return to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon. “Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees” (Ezra 7:10). Zerubbabel and a group of Israelite exiles had been permitted to return from Babylon to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem decades earlier (2:1-2). And now Ezra, who had “the gracious hand of his God . . . on him” (7:9), was leading more exiles to Jerusalem. God would use him to reform and restore the proper worship of Him according to Scripture: “Ezra opened the book [of the Law]. All the people . . . bowed down and worshiped the Lord” (Nehemiah 8:5-6).

Ezra had to wait decades, but he completed his calling in God’s strength. In His power, let’s persist in finishing the work He has for us.