THE EVER-WATCHFUL EYE OF GOD

But God was watching over the Jewish elders. These men wouldn’t stop them … (Ezra 5:5)

If you are following Christ and desire to do His will, there is Someone who is watching over you. Someone with power greater than any human or demonic enemy that might come to try to thwart your work.

REBUILDING THE TEMPLE

In a stroke of Divine intervention, a pagan king (Cyrus) had been moved to send his captive Israelites home to their land and had ordered them to rebuild the Temple. He had also provided the materials. This was nothing more than the intervention of God, moving the heart of a king “like rivers of water.” If God is God, He can do things like that.

Back in Jerusalem, they find opposition from those who had remained and were living there. But what those enemies didn’t count on was the God who had moved upon Cyrus and was now “watching over the Elders” who were charged with the task of rebuilding.

Although Ezra 4-6 records the intense opposition the returning Israelites encountered, the end result was the rebuilding of the Temple.

Then the Israelites, including the priests, the Levites, and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of the house of God with joy … They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them, so that he supported them in the work on the house of the God of Israel. (Ezra 5:16, 22)

AND YOU

What is before you? What is God calling you to do in His great plan for this earth and the part you are to play? Know this: there will be opposition. You may be feeling it right now. “But God is watching over you.” If you continue to look to Him for His Divine help, you will recognize His hand, lifting, helping, protecting, and providing from His inexhaustible storehouse. Even though it’s hard, you can fulfill His will with joy!