The Grands Letter (Ezra/GLJ)
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D. on December 1, 2025 5:13 am (CST)
Dear Grands,
Ezra 3:1-5, “Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.
2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.
3 So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.
4 They celebrated the Feast of Booths, as it is written, and offered the fixed number of burnt offerings daily, according to the ordinance, as each day required;
5 and afterward there was a continual burnt offering, also for the new moons and for all the fixed festivals of the LORD that were consecrated, and from everyone who offered a freewill offering to the LORD.”
Have you ever been afraid? I mean really afraid! It’s only a guess, but I cannot imagine anyone being more afraid than these Israelites were when they suddenly realized that they had neglected to build an altar to the LORD God of Israel! It was serious! Building the altar was an indispensable responsibility! Additionally, they were terrified of the people who lived in the land!
The situation has hardly changed over the years. No, we don’t build altars to the LORD, as the Israelites did; but we pray! I can recall several instances (I will spare you the knowledge of when and where!) when my “race” to prayer might easily have surpassed those of the Israelites!
Thinking comparatively, how much do you think we might accomplish if we worked and prayed as earnestly as the Israelites? We could probably outnumber them with complaints!
Give some thought to your prayer life. How often do you pray? How earnestly do you seek the LORD on behalf of others? How often do you thank the LORD for answering?
Heartily yours in Christ,
Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
United States of America
“We will never know that Christ is all we need,
Until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom
