We continue our study of the life of Ezra. We discussed in the first study that during the reign of King Artaxerxes, an opposition arose that stopped building the temple for 18 years. The Bible records that the enemies of the Israelites (the enemy of our soul, the devil) sent a letter to the king who succeeded Cyrus in Ezra 4. The letter was rebellious and painted the building of the Lord in a negative light which made the king stop the temple’s work.
In Ezra 5, the Lord moved Haggai and Zechariah to prophesy to the hearts of the children of Israel. Their prophecy stirred up the heart of Zerubbabel, and he rose and restarted the building of the house of the Lord (the temple). News of this reached their enemies, and they began to query their work and sent another letter to the reigning king, Darius. They issued another letter of damnation. In the letter, they reiterated how Xteres had already put a stop to the building of the temple. The letter included the response from the Israelites or remnants as they were referred to at the time. The letter was truthful and documented the entire story of how the temple building came to be. From the time of the captivity of the Israelites by Nebuchadnezzar, the decree of Cyrus up until the cessation of the temple’s construction in the reign of Artaxerxes (Ezra 5:11-17). The letter ended with a request for the king to search the archives to try and verify the claims made in the letter. The enemies of Israel even urged Darius to search to find out if Cyrus ever issued a decree. To justify their false allegations and to end the lives of the Israelites.
At times like this, we must never give up as Christians. Sometimes when God has ordained or established a thing in our lives, the enemy comes in and tries to discourage us or pervert the dream or assignment God births in our hearts. If he fails, he moves on to try and stop the dream or work ultimately. When we are on the right part, we begin to experience delays and setbacks that come to thwart our dreams and sometimes seem to go on forever. Let us be encouraged because God is on our side. Why he allows the delay sometimes is beyond our comprehension. But be rest assured that God always has the final say in anything he has spoken concerning our lives. The Bible assures us that God causes all things to work together for our good as long as we are called by the Lord Romans 8:28.
In a manner characteristic of the almighty God, he uses what the enemy means for evil and turns it around for our good. Which is what God always does Genesis 50:20. The search was carried out. To the glory of almighty God, the investigation revealed that not only was the evidence in support of the building of the temple uncovered, but it also revealed the entire Persian empire was meant to support the Jews both financially and otherwise (Ezra 6:3-12). This revelation expedited the building of the temple and led to its quick completion, dedication, and celebration of the Passover, and all the Israelites gave glory to God.
The story’s moral is that no matter what we are going through. If we have searched ourselves and know that it is beyond us, that is, we have confessed any known sin and made amends where possible, then we have to leave it to God and trust him to turn it around for our good. Because he makes all things beautiful in its time Ecclesiastes 3:11.
Are you yet to become a Christian? Have you yet to surrender your life to Jesus Christ? Then permit me to share the good news of redemption with you. God the Father loves us so much that he sent his only son, Jesus, to die for us. If we accept him as our Lord and Savior, he will come into our lives, reconcile us to God the Father, and seal us with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will help us know God and love him until we are reunited with him for all eternity. So, knowing that God desires that all may be saved, I would like to invite anyone who is not a believer to come to him because he loves us and desires for us to know him.
Pray this: “Dear God, I am sorry for turning away from you and doing things my way. Please forgive me for my sins. I confess with my mouth and believe with my heart that Jesus died for my sins. I ask him to come into my heart and be my Savior and Lord. Thank you, Father, in Jesus’s name, I pray, Amen”.
That’s it. If you say this prayer and believe, you are born again. The Holy Spirit will dwell within you and begin to guide you in your new life, and your life will never be the same again. Getting into a Bible-based church and fellowship where the truth of God is preached to help you grow in your new life is also essential. Try and do so. God bless you and remain blessed.