June 24, 2018: Day 71 – Ezra 4

So as quickly as the building of the temple took place, so that quickly it stops.  It seems like the locals became upset because they wanted to participate in the building of the temple.  We read, and this is surprising, that those who came and asked to join in the building of the temple were also worshipers of the God of Israel.  They give a history that is shocking for the Scripture.  To find other people who have worshiped the God of Israel and who want to join in on the worship by the building of the temple, is simply surprising.

But the people of Israel say no, you cannot join us in the building of the temple.  This is not unusual because we have seen in previous chapters that there was a family that was thought to be a priestly family but since they could not trace their lineage they were stripped of their priestly duties and responsibilities.  Here, this is a similar situation.  There is a group of people which asks to be included, but the people of Israel say no.

As a result they turn on the new immigrants who have just come from Babylonian captivity and tell rumors about them and say that they are trouble makers.  The rulers of the land do a little research and find out that in the past the Israelites were a powerful nation.  As a result the king puts a pause on the construction and says that no one is to go forward with the building.  We continue to distrust those who are strangers and not of us and as a result we may find ourselves in difficulties for no reason at all.