obedience and stuff :)

Continuing in Ezra.....
so in chapter five, the Israelites listen to the prophets Haggai and Zachariah and resume construction on the temple which causes the governor to start asking questions. He doesn’t shut them down, but writes to the king, imploring him to check records for Cyrus’ decree to rebuild the temple.

“But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it” (Ezra 5:5)

So, it was the Israelites obedience to God to continue building even in the face of legal troubles that caused the king Darius to find Cyrus’ old edict for Jerusalem to be rebuilt. God chose to bless the Israelites again by touching the king’s heart. Darius supports the temple builders financially and even provides animals for sacrifice. He then protects the Israelites and their purpose with this:

“Also i make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill. May the God who has cause His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem”.

How cool is that? God faithfully provides for the Israelites...but notice that the Israelites had to take a leap of faith and obey God. They had to begin building, with no guarantee of safety for themselves or their families. But God blessed them for their rightful commitment to His commands. God used their obedience to impact the king and governor and also to bless the Israelites. Not only did the Israelites gain the support and funding from the Darius, but also the assurance that their work would go unhindered by anything else! God is pleased with obedience, for obedience is our most tangible demonstration of our love for Jesus. (John 14:15) I pray that no matter the circumstances or repercussions, i would earnestly strive to act in accordance with what God commands because i love Him.

Again, in chapter 7, we see God changing the heart of the king Artaxerxes as he offers help to Ezra. I love Ezra’s response!

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, and who extended to me His steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the Lord my God was on me and i gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me” (Ezra 7:27-28)

I pray that I would recognize and react to God’s hand in my life with the same reverence and joy as Ezra did. When God orchestrates circumstances that allow me to follow His will with confidence, may i marvel and praise Him with such fervent devotion that others comprehend how great and powerful and GOOD our God truly is!