Ezra 4:16
“We are informing the king that if that city is rebuilt and the walls finished, then as a result of this you will have no possession in the province beyond the Euphrates River.”
This is the finishing line that the people of the land sent to the reigning king to stop the work of rebuilding the temple. Unfortunately it worked. This is sad as this work was started by the decree of an earlier king. This is from Ezra 1:2, “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to rebuild for Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.'”
The people were thwarting God, His Word and His work. This is discouraging. All the momentum of the work, then they get the command from the king to stop. We have to bring these to the Lord. I Peter 5:7 says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
We are to keep our joy. Don’t let the enemy disturb us. Yes, the work was stopped, but God is bigger and can overcome them. This reminds me of when king Hezekiah received threats from a foreign king. He laid out the letter before the Lord in 2 Kings 19:14 & 19, “So Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers, read it, and went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD…And now, O LORD our God, please save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
God prophesied that He wold fight that battle and defeat them. Our victories might not happen that quickly. The outcome may not be as we would have hoped. But God will work His will. Trust Him and thank Him in advance. Praise Him.
Thank You, Lord, that You’ve got us. You will win our battles and do Your work. Help us to be joyful and faithful.