Providence In Israel's History - Part II

(all Scripture quotes from NASB)

Good News for Israel

 

Another seventy years gone by, and yet the rebuilding of Jerusalem is not complete. Opposition runs high outside the camp, and doubtless, discouragement is on the rise inside the camp. But God…

Ezr 5:1-5 (around 460 BC)
1 When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, 2 then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them. 3 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, "Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?" 4 Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building. 5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report should come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it.

God so moved that not only did Cyrus have favor towards the Israelites, but so did his successor, Darius. Israel's enemies thought to ruin Israel's success with this new king, but failed to do so, because this was not God's will. Again, God's mercy had tempered His judgment against His people. Again, in His providence, He chose to prosper that nation.

Ezr 6:19-22
19 And the exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month. 20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were pure. Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves. 21 And the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate the Passover. 22 And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

Now see the results! Israel rejoiced for seven days running, because God was so moving upon their hearts. Again, the thanksgiving to God increased, the glory to God increased.

Good News for the Nations

 

Ne 6:15-16 (around 450 BC)
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 And it came about when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence; for they recognized that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

But, it wasn't over yet. All those nations that had been embattling Israel throughout this time, determined to wipe the memory of that nation from the earth had been forced to acknowledge the God if Israel. They could not help but realize that what had happened had happened because God is in control. Can you see it! All of this long story is interconnected. All of it plays into the thread of God's purpose.

History Repeats Itself

 

Over and over in the history of Israel, and in the history of the Church, we have seen this same story played out. Germany attempted to take up the task that Edom and Aram had abandoned. They failed, although they inflicted unsurpassed damage upon God's people. We may not have seen the end of this particular episode even now.

Throughout the history of the Church, there have been attempts to do away with it, attempts to destroy the Biblical record, but these attempts have failed. When one Christian region has been overrun, the Bible has been planted in another. It has proven to be an unkillable religion, thriving on adversity, growing stronger with every attempt to destroy it. Surely, the history of God's work in His Church will, in the long run, show His involvement to those who have attacked it. Surely, His enemies will be forced to acknowledge Him in the end, to declare Him Lord who alone is Lord of all.

The Lesson for Us

 

We serve a God who is able to arrange incredible sequences of events through long periods of history to bring about His desired purpose. The example we have just been looking at covered most of five centuries. This is the God we serve. This is the God who is as concerned with each sparrow He creates as He showed Himself to be with Israel. He is all-wise. He is not only in control, but He is capable. He can devise the best of plans for the best of results, and He arranges the best possible ways to achieve what He plans.

How can we be afraid? How can we be anxious over our circumstances? He has arranged our circumstance. He knows where we are, and He knows what we need. He knows the best ways to provide our needs, and He will do it! What can come against us that He does not send for our benefit? What sorrow can we not face, knowing that He has a reason for that sorrow, that our light and temporary afflictions are suffered in His purpose, to attain to a weighty and eternal glory?

God, forgive this weak flesh of mine. All too easily, I forget these lessons. All too easily, I follow the report of my eyes, and fail to recognize Your hand behind my days. You know best. You know what we need, whether it be discipline or blessing. You know, and You will do it. If You choose to fill me in on Your plans, I welcome it. If You find it best that I lean on trusting You in spite of not knowing, then I will do my utmost to welcome that, as well. Indeed, Your ways are awesome beyond my comprehending. To see the thread of Your actions through such sweeps of history; to see that whatever the vagaries of man, You have not lost control for even a moment; this is just astounding. I am bowed in awe. How could I think to question such a One as You? I accept Your will, my God. Whatever it may be, however You choose to work it out in me, I accept it. I pray that You would help me to accept it gracefully.

  

©2002 - Jeffrey A. Wilcox