Day 143 - Ezra 5-7

ONE-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE BIBLE
Day 143 - Ezra 5-7 (No One Can Oppose You if God is With You)
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"At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: "Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?"... But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, so that they could not make them cease till a report could go to Darius."  (Ezra 1:3-5) 

In chapter 4 of Ezra, king Artaxerxes of Persia and Babylon issued a decree at the request of the enemies of the Jews to stop all work in rebuilding the temple.  So for many years, the unfinished temple frame remained just that - until we come to our text above where we find certain prophets of the Jews sent by God to rally the people to resume building the temple.

As was the at first, those who opposed the Jews' rebuilding the temple arose with the governor of the region leading them in order to make the Jews stop their workk of rebuilding.  But as we read from our text, those officials could not stop the Jews and were forced to write a letter to king Darius requesting that a search be made verifying the claims of the Jews that king Cyrus issued a decree to build the temple in Jerusalem.

So, king Darius ordered the search and found that indeed king Cyrus issued the decree regarding the building of the temple as claimed by the Jews.  Not only that, God had apparently prepared Darius to become a believer in the God of Israel, perhaps thru the witness of Daniel who served in the king's court, so that he issued his own decree ordering his entire domain to help in the rebuilding of the temple.

Wow!  What a great testimony about God's sovereignty and of His loving care for His people!  The Jews finally finished the temple and once again began observing God's commandments on how to worship Him as prescribed to Moses.  When we obey God's will despite strong opposition or even persecution, God's eyes will be upon us as it were on the Jews who obeyed God in resuming the building of the temple despite opposition from their enemies.

Today more than ever in our society, Christians are faced with tremendous opposition and even sever persecution from those who hate Christ.  Let us be encouraged by our lesson today and let us bravely obey God's will despite the threat of ridicule from others or even the risk of losing our employment.  God is able to move the hearts of even the most powerful person in the world in order to accomplish His purposes.