Opposition Arises

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ezra 4:1-10. In this Scripture, we see that the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard they were building the Temple to the LORD, God of Israel. They went to Zerubbabel, and asked him to let them build alongside the people of Judah. They claimed to be seeking and serving the same God as the children of the captivity.

Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and all the leaders of Israel told these enemies that they had nothing to do with them and the building project. The leaders let them know that the people of Judah were commissioned by King Cyrus, the king of Persia to build the temple and nothing would deter them. Have you noticed when you are doing something good everybody wants to jump on board? Sometimes they are jealous and want to hinder our progress rather than help us.

These particular people were jealous and angry. They tried to cause trouble for the people of Judah and slow the progress on the building of the Temple of God. They even bribed counselors to hinder the work. Historically, they caused the people of Judah trouble during the whole reign of King Cyrus and into the reign of King Darius, King of Persia.

When Solomon built the first temple, 1 Kings 5:4 tells us that he didn’t have any opposition. “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” The children of the exile were not going to be that fortunate; they would have to fight for years to complete the job of building the Temple of God. One of the enemies’ strategies was to tie the children of captivity up in legal matters to keep them from doing the work of the LORD.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ezra 4:1-10

1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto the LORD God of Israel;

2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as ye do; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.

3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto the LORD God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.

4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,

5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.

6 And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, wrote they unto him an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.

7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.

8 Rehum the chancellor and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king in this sort:

9 Then wrote Rehum the chancellor, and Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their companions; the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, and the Elamites,

10 And the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar brought over, and set in the cities of Samaria, and the rest that are on this side the river, and at such a time.

Things to think about:

Have you ever had anybody try to discourage you from doing the work God called you to do?

How do you respond when opposition arises?

What is the best way we can defeat the enemy?

Prayer of the day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we study the book of Ezra, we see that the people of long ago had opposition as they tryed to do the work You called them to do. Help us to not allow the enemy side track us and delay what You have called us to do. Help us to stay true and faithful to You and Your calling. Give us strength and courage when we face the enemy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

This is an excerpt from: The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

I have shared the first five lessons from The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection this week to give you an idea of what the book is about. The book has a total of seventeen lessons. These first five lessons set the stage for the rest of the book and the adventure that the children of Israel experience while attempting to build the temple at Jerusalem. If you haven’t read the book yet, get a copy, and you will be blessed by the story that is revealed in The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection.

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Featured Book: Have you read:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection

by Deborah H. Bateman

About the Book:

The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection by Deborah H. Bateman is a Daily Bible Reading Study of the book of Ezra. The book of Ezra is found in the Old Testament of the Bible. After seventy years of Babylonian captivity God commissions King Cyrus to write a decree allowing the Jewish people to return home for the purpose of building the second temple at Jerusalem.

God is faithful to provide all their needs and protect them on their journey and throughout the process of the building of the temple despite the opposition and their own disobedience.

Each lesson consists of a brief commentary by the author, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation or discussion, and a prayer of the day. The Book of Ezra: A Story of Provision and Protection is a great Bible study for personal or group Bible study.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Go to: http://amazon.com/dp/B0094XSHMC

Get your copy now!

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

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