QT: Opposition can become Completion in God's Providence

QT: Opposition can become Completion in God's Providence

Opposition can become Completion in God's Providence
https://www.esv.org/Ezra5:1–17,6:6–12.
Week 19: 03/05/2023. Wed

The enemies' oppositions were frequently God's way of assuring the completion of His works.

The messages of Haggai and Zechariah (5:1) were basically to "continue the rebuilding work" (Ezra 5:1–5) based on the previous decree of Cyrus the Persian emperor. However, the opposition's query by Tettenai was "sure or not"? (Ezra 5:6–17), hinting that the Jews' rebuilding was illegal.

The Persian king Darius's reply was "Yes"—King Cyrus did really issue a decree previously to allow the Jews to rebuild the temple. Not only did Darius confirm the previous decree, he reinforced the rebuilding in two ways:

(1) Positively: The labour costs were to be paid from the "royal revenue" and "without delay" (6:8). Materially, "And whatever is needed—bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require—let that be given to them day by day without fail, whatever is needed" (6:9–10), they were to be supplied abundantly.

(2) Negatively: He commanded everyone to "let the work on this house of God alone" (6:7), implying that no one was to disturb the rebuilding. Darius even enacted a drastic law that if anyone opposed his decree–"... a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and his house shall be made a dunghill" (6:11).

APPLICATION: Do not be dismayed by setbacks or challenges. We trust God will use them in His own way via His magnificent wisdom. Do you have a similar experience to share to bless others?