Ezra 3:8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua, son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the LORD.
God exiled the children of Israel to Babylon for seventy Years. However, the scriptures let us know that according to the Word of God through the Prophet Jeremiah, God moved in the heart of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation that allowed the Children of Israel to return to Judah (Jeremiah 25:11-12; Ezra 1:1-3).
It took a few years to complete the rebuilding of the Temple,
but God’s people did get the Temple rebuilt and resumed regular temple worship.
When we look at the volatile history of the Children of Israel during this
time and throughout their history, we can see one primary constant. That was God’s
faithfulness and promise never to leave or forsake His people (Deuteronomy
31:6).
We can learn many lessons from their actions and deeds to
avoid many of the pitfalls they suffered. When we contemplate and ponder the
world we live in today and the ungodly conduct of so many that roam the halls
of power and justice today, we can give thanks because God is still, as He
always has been, in control.
Another fantastic and astonishing fact about God is that he will
use people sometimes that we might question their qualifications and the reason
why they are in power. In the past, God has used evil people like Pharaoh and
Herod, Nebuchadnezzar, and Cyrus the Great to carry out His divine purpose. God
sometimes uses what might appear to us to be the enemy of our souls to carry
out His great purposefulness and design.
We should use the story of the return of the Children of Israel
to their homeland and the opposition and hostility they faced to teach us a
Valuable lesson. We must understand the importance of not allowing the
disparagement, disdain, and ridicule we might get from the world around us to
interfere in God’s will for our lives. Our God is a faithful God that is always
in control and will always keep His promise to all of His children that He will
never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). If we will but place our faith and
trust in our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus, He will help us grow and mature in
our spiritual walk with Him. He will use us to carry His Gospel to the ends of
the earth if we only surrender our lives to Him, body, mind, spirit, and soul.
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