Ezra 4:1 When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the LORD, the God of Israel 2 they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, "Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of the king of Assyria, who brought us here."

Has God pointed you toward a task to complete or given you a dream to fulfill? Have you found yourself taking steps in the right direction only to encounter what appears to be an insurmountable obstacle? Are you beginning to wonder if God’s assurance you experienced in the past was an empty promise?

This was the experience of the Jews as they began to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Following a mandate by a former king, they had gathered the needed materials and laid a foundation.

But then their enemies sabotaged the project and turned the current king against them. Construction on the temple halted and the people lived in fear.

Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them (Ezra 5:1).

As the people responded in faith to the Word of God, their situation turned around. They refocused on God’s promises, and they saw His purposes accomplished.

Challenge for Today: Just as the Israelites trusted God, determine to trust Him to bring your season of apparent defeat to an end.