Day 233 – Zerubbabel #3

• Today we read about how the temple rebuilding work continued on, following the stop and start, and comes to be completed, as we continue on in the book of Ezra.
• During the build, who came to visit and start asking questions? What was the intention of the official Tattenai, in verse 5? Who was watching over, and controlling, the actions of the elders?
• The answers that the elders gave to Tattenai are recorded in the letter that is sent to Darius, the king. See if you can work out from what the Jews said in Ezra 5:11-17. How did they use the law in their favour?
• In their answers, did they hide the reasons for rebuilding the temple, or their faith in God? Do you think they were finally listening to the messages of the prophets that we read about yesterday?
• There is no reference in this passage to the people who had been trying to disrupt the building work. Do you think they had gone away? Or do you think the Jews just stopped worrying about them?
• Darius searched for the earlier edict from king Cyrus. How did the king respond in Ezra 6, after the decree had been found? What, beyond just letting the work continue, did the king offer? There are several in Ezra 6:8-12. Isn’t it amazing how this foreign king was so willing to help the Israelites! Can you see the blessings that came to the people when they trusted in God to take care of them?
• What happened when they finished the temple? What did the Jews offer as sacrifices?
• What festival did the people celebrate after finishing the temple?
• There are many stories in the bible of God’s power. How often do you actually rely on God to take care of you? Why do you think people rely on themselves and either forget or choose to ignore God?
• The Passage in Proverbs talks about wisdom. What is wisdom? Why is it important?

In today’s passage, the elders of Israel relied on God as they sent a message to king Darius, not knowing how he responded. That trust was massively repaid, wasn’t it, as Darius authorised the work to continue and offered gifts to help. How often do you actually rely on God to take care of you? Know this: God is always looking out for you and He will never leave you.

There’s something else exciting in this passage which you may have missed. Look at Ezra 6:21. It’s not easy to spot it, but in this verse, the returning exiles are joined by “everyone who had joined them”, which will have included non-Jewish people. This means the group are connected by their faith, but not necessarily their physical birth or family tree. In other words, gentiles were converting to follow God! What a wonderful hint of the good news of Jesus, whose death and resurrection brought everyone who believes – Jews and non-Jews – into God’s forever kingdom!