Ezra 1 – 5
Every time I start Ezra I think of the band Better Than Ezra, whose roots appear to come from a Hemingway novel and not the Bible. Aside from that a famous motorcrosser from Georgia, Ezra Lusk, comes to mind. It’s just one of those Biblical names that is rare and sticks with you once you hear it.
Verse 1:2 sets the stage for the book of Ezra:
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
By this time the temple needs to be rebuilt and the people of Israel are returning to their land as captives and subjects to other rulers. The Lord stirred in the heart of Cyrus king of Persia the idea of rebuilding the temple. I find it strange how the people who fear the result of a unified Israel under God could allow a temple to be built. But at the same time how many years has it been since some great triumph of God occurred.
This brings up and interesting question, but what would it take for the world to believe in God? What would God need to do? I say nothing at all. Sure He may get everyone believing for a little bit, but remember the Israelites watched the Red Sea part and were making a golden calf and worshiping it a short time later. So in this case, like every other, Cyrus either forgot the past or explained it away as misfortune.
Verses 4:4 & 5 shows that everyone was not on board with the king:
4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build 5 and bribed counsellors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
How many times are our plans being undermined? This happens today with people in business and the home front. Someone is not onboard with the original decision, they can make waves and try to undermine the act. Most of the time people are not reasoned into a decision or the justification is not clearly explained causing a split in the people. I wonder if this “split” would have occurred if they would have had a hand in the decision or if the ultimate decision was more in their hand.
We see this happen in business and marriages all the time, people don’t communicate well under pressure. The world would be a better place if more people would learn to communicate and be flexible. Now in this instance Cyrus had a inspiration from God while I am sure these people did not have the same insight.
Verse 5:16 talks about the foundation being laid:
Then this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is not yet finished.’
Interestingly this foundation took two years to construct and as we saw met great resistance. I wonder how long it would have taken if everyone was “on the bus”? We don’t realize how much easier life would be if we took things serious up front and communicated what needed to be done and get everyone “on the bus” before starting. This may be a great model for how not to get things done.