Ezra 5
When Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to those who gathered in Judah and Jerusalem, there came a resuming of God’s work: “…then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak rose up and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them, supporting them.” (2) This rebuilding did not stop the opposition from those living outside God’s promise land! They sought to intimidate God’s people challenging their authority to build. “But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report could reach Darius, and then the decree concerning it could be sent back.” (5) Their courage to overcome opposition in the form of intimidation came from relying on a prophetic call to rebuild God’s house in a previous heathen king and prophetic challenges and encouragement. The loss of the temple of God came from their disobedience to God’s word and now its rebuilding effort would be sustained by faithfulness to God’s word and its detailed contents. So they continued to work until the decision would come to them from the king who would research this command of Cyrus. If we are to be successful in doing God’s work, we must stand confidently valuing prophetic words and not be distracted by intimidation and opposition knowing God’s eye is on us!