Did you know God makes all things work together for your good? Yes! including the actions of those who set themselves as your enemies. The book of EZRA, one of my absolute favorite Old testament books is a perfect example of that.
Ezra! what a story! So much drama! so Interesting!
The events take place after the people of Israel have gone to exile in Babylon. While they are in Babylon, God stirs the heart of the King of Babylon (Persia), Cyrus at the time to write a letter, allowing the Israelites to return to Jerusalem and rebuilt the temple of God. This is the temple which was built by Solomon that got destroyed when Babylon captured Judah.
This just makes me appreciate the New Testament even more! To know that today God doesn't live in a temple built with human hands in Jerusalem but rather, he lives in us! Wow!
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?" ~ 1 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
King Cyrus then writes and documents his decision to let the Israelites return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of God. As the construction began the enemies of Judah and Benjamin found out that the exiles were rebuilding the temple and they made it their goal to stop the project. They discouraged, frightened and even bribed other people to frustrate the plans to have the temple rebuilt. This went on until King Cyrus's reign ended.
When a new king began his reign, king Xerxes the enemies of Judah and Benjamin began writing and sending letters to him making accusations against the people of Judah and Benjamin. . Even when another king came, King Artaxerxes the enemies did the same thing, they sent letters making accusations against the exiles. King Artaxerxes went as far as issuing orders to have the project stopped.
I ordered a search of the records and have found that Jerusalem has indeed been a hotbed of insurrection against many kings. In fact, rebellion and revolt are normal there! Powerful kings have ruled over Jerusalem and the entire province west of the Euphrates River, receiving tribute, customs, and tolls. Therefore, issue orders to have these men stop their work. That city must not be rebuilt except at my express command. ~ Ezra 4:19-21 NLT
The project stopped until the second reign of King Darius. Prophet Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews, and they responded by starting again to rebuild the temple.
How important it is to act on prophesy! When the word of God comes to you, act on it. He's word is reliable, you can fully believe and act on it.
When the Israelites were busy with the reconstruction, guess what! The governor of the neighboring province and his colleagues started disrupting the project. They would pitch on the site and ask, " Who gave you permission to rebuild the temple?". The Israelites told them about all King Cyrus said. Yet the governor decided to write a letter to the recent king, King Darius, They sent a letter to King Darius requesting him to look up on the matter, they were hoping the King would stop the project! but guess what? The complete opposite happened.
Hidden away in the Babylonian archives was the letter God stirred King Cyrus to write. King Darius found the letter and responded to the complaints of the governor and his colleagues as follows;
So King Darius sent this message:
“Now therefore, Tattenai, governor of the province west of the Euphrates River, and Shethar-bozenai, and your colleagues and other officials west of the Euphrates River—stay away from there! Do not disturb the construction of the Temple of God. Let it be rebuilt on its original site, and do not hinder the governor of Judah and the elders of the Jews in their work.
Moreover, I hereby decree that you are to help these elders of the Jews as they rebuild this Temple of God. You must pay the full construction costs, without delay, from my taxes collected in the province west of the Euphrates River so that the work will not be interrupted.
“Give the priests in Jerusalem whatever is needed in the way of young bulls, rams, and male lambs for the burnt offerings presented to the God of heaven. And without fail, provide them with as much wheat, salt, wine, and olive oil as they need each day. ~ Ezra 6:6-9 NLT
Their enemies ended up paying for the rebuilding of the temple. People who were against them, ended up being their sponsors. Those who try to set themselves against you, are truly doing the impossible! God is for! Nothing can be against you!
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