Fighting Back

 

    As a Christian it can be difficult to know how to stand up for yourself or if you should.  It takes wisdom and maturity to be able to handle really difficult situations as a child of God.  The human nature can be vindictive, passive aggressive, or flat out aggressive.  It is a challenge to learn how to control it in all circumstances.

    The Jews were being lied about.  People were going out of their way to ruin their reputation.  They had freedom, but now that freedom was being restrained.  The rebuilding of God's temple had been put to a halt for a very long time.  People were opposing their place of worship.  Of course the Jews were angry.  They were also scared, confused, and feeling many other emotions as they tried to understand why and move forward.

    The prophets, Haggai and Zerubabel, were determined to finish God's house.  They began the rebuilding without permission.   Tattenai was the governor and he was not at all happy about the situation.  He felt like his job or possibly his life would be threatened by their position.  He could not stop God's plan.

    King Darius received a letter from Tattenai about the situation.  He had to report the construction that was happening, but all he had to defend himself was a declaration on God's behalf.  When confronted the people told him they were servants of God.  They were doing God's work.  They didn't have to argue.  They minded their own business and stayed on track.  

    Tattenai asked that the scribe to look at the archives where the Jews had originally been given permission to build God's house.  He may not like that the Jews were getting their way.  However, he was going to cover his own hide.  He was not going to get killed because of them if he could help it.  On the other hand, God was fighting the battle for the Jews using records and intellect.

Ezra 5