Possibilities

 

    No one knows the future.  No one really knows what will happen.  People may be good at reading a situation and how to manipulate people, but they don't know what will happen.  People may have dreams, like the prophets, but it does not give an exact interpretation of all the possibilities.

    When you chose to defend yourself or take a step into the unknown it can be scary because you don't know where it will lead.  It may seem to make things worse.  My theory is things always get worse before they get better, like when you are sick.  You feel bad and realize that you are sick.  You take medicine that will make you better, but at first the medicine makes you feel worse.  Life can be like that, the things you do to make it better may make it appear worse before it gets better.

    King Darius found the declaration that King Cyrus had made about ensuring God's temple being rebuilt to completion.  It was very detailed and Darius took that as law, so he ordered that the temple must be completed.  

    After many years of waiting and working, the temple was completed.  The Jews celebrated and added in the Passover.  The Passover was designed to be an annual remembrance holiday.  People get distracted easily by problems.  It had turned into something that happened on a national level only once or twice a century and that means the exact date had gotten lost a long time ago.  It was just the ideal time to celebrate God liberating His people.

    This time the Passover was celebrated with gratitude to King Darius for making it possible.  Seeing their gratitude made his attitude change toward them.  Things could have turned out very differently.  However, when God is working behind the scenes, the evil plans of people or Satan can't stop it.  Things may look bleak, but keep praying and have faith that God will use it all.  Be open for any possibility.

Ezra 6