Ezra 4
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1.4 miles- that’s all it was. The journey would be complete. Let’s Go!
“You got to be kidding me.”
“How much further.”
“I am not going to make it.”
“This burns.”
So was the distance further then described? Were the travelers exaggerating?
It was only 1.4 miles; however the change in elevation over that span was 1200 feet. The travelers were at the end of a 5 day hike in the Grand Canyon. Backpacks had been relieved of the weight of food and water, but were still full of gear.
It was only 1.4 miles, but there was resistance the whole way.
God moving the heart of a king, rousing the heart of the Israelites, restoring worship, and fashioning a people is not fudging the truth in any way here in the story of Ezra. From the overview of God’s working and ability, these events take place with ease and simplicity. It makes sense why this would stir hope for pressing on in life. However, there is the nagging question in the back of our minds regarding the effectiveness of this kind of hope. We believe these things are true, yet we know that what looks so clear and simple doesn’t always seem to help in everyday living. We are at the point in the story where trouble enters, but it is not introduced as an element of a good story. Like the former parts of the story, it is included to for our hope. This passage presents us with an honest reality: Next Steps are not Easy Steps, and it give us the charge: Don’t stop when trouble comes.
Next Steps are Not Easy Steps; Don’t stop when trouble comes
Next Steps are Not Easy Steps; Don’t stop when trouble comes
Why should you not stop when trouble comes?
Character, Endurance and Hope are Being Built in Trouble
Character, Endurance and Hope are Being Built in Trouble
2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
This a straightforward statement from God about how He is working. From a human standpoint, we we look at God’s goal and ponder the complicated way of getting there.
Picture being at the trail head in which you can see your destination. At the trail head there are two guides giving different directions to get to the destination. One is giving a short direct route. Another is giving a longer and more difficult route. You have one question to ask. What would it be? A good question would be: “Have you been there?
Our perspective is like that of the inexperienced guide. We only can go on what we see and know? Consider our God who we have seen in the book of Ezra alone. He controls the hearts of kings. He stirs up the hears of people. Whatever promises He makes, He keeps without missing any details. He is not a respecter of persons. He is committed to restoring and making His people new.
According to God why should we not stop when trouble comes? The trouble is not random. He controls all the factors. His destination is not vague. His commitment is not haphazard.
We have seen why we shouldn’t stop, but why is it easy to stop?
Quitting is reasonable in trouble
Quitting is reasonable in trouble
The troublemakers
The troublemakers
Adversaries (v. 1)
People of the land
In 2 Kings 17, we see what the Assyrian king Sargon 2 did in deporting people from lands into Samaria.
This is something that Esarhaddon(v. 2) carried out and Ashurbanipal carried out (v.10)
In 2 Kings 17, the record shows that the people added the worship of Israels God to the worship of their other gods.
Kings
Bribing counselors to frustrate the work of the temple
The people of the land wrote Accusing letters to Ahasuerus (Ester’s King) (v. 6)
Commanding officers in the land wrote letters to Artaxerxes regarding the building of the city and its walls. (v.v. 7-8)
The tactics of the troublemakers
The tactics of the troublemakers
A false allegiance (v. 2)
2 they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”
Discouragement, fear, bribery (v. 5)
5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Lies, exaggerations, - they won’t pay taxes, they will rebel.
13 Let it now be known to the king that, if this city is built and the walls completed, they will not pay tax, tribute, or custom, and the king’s treasury will be diminished. 14 Now because we receive support from the palace, it was not proper for us to see the king’s dishonor; therefore we have sent and informed the king,
The tenacity of the troublemakers
The tenacity of the troublemakers
The narrative is very clear to show that the people of the land were adversaries and they their work continued for a long time
The trouble that God’s people face is real, but it is only a diversion from the real world.
Our King is honest with us about the troubles we will face.
As He exposes their tactics, may we humbly rely on Him to keep us from its deceit and sustain us through it longevity.
Transition: What is the danger of stopping?
Turning inward is sinful in trouble
Turning inward is sinful in trouble
21 Now give the command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me. 22 Take heed now that you do not fail to do this. Why should damage increase to the hurt of the kings? 23 Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes’ letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. 24 Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Turning inward involves looking only at your resources, knowledge, and perspective and making the conclusion as to what you should do.
The people yielded to the resistance and went about their own business
9 “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house.
3 Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts.
Pointing to Christ and the gospel
When walking the 1.4 miles of the trail out of the canyon, in the midst of the exhaustion, you look down and see the very trail on which you are walking has been cleared. That means someone has gone ahead and not only pave the way, but has completed the course.
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
If next steps are not easy steps what should we do?
Pray lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil each day. Prayerlessness displays a blindness about next steps being hard.
For young people, you face an enticement when you have not experienced the stings of sin. Here Proverbs warning: my son if sinners entice you don’t consent; I saw a young man walking by the house of the prostitute…the pornography, boyfriend or girl friend, the hidden conversation from your parents- seek help don’t think you can win by yourself.
For those long in the fight- keep fighting; its a good fight; the fight is to keep on believing; take summitting steps today.