The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Ezra 4:1-5, “Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel,

2 they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, ‘Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.’

3 But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, ‘You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.’

4 Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building,

5 and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.”

Sometimes what looks good from the outside is no good altogether. Let’s say that you are engaged in a project that you had never before undertaken. A person sees what you’re intending and immediately offers to help. You appreciate his willingness to assist you, but soon learn that he has no idea whatever to do. He’s just going to hinder your progress altogether and ruin your day!

This is what nearly occurred when the tribes of Judah and Benjamin determined to build a temple to the LORD! Zerubbabel and Company wanted to oblige Judah and Benjamin with help which they neither asked nor wanted. When they were told no, they changed from “advocates” to “antagonists,” and brought discouragement and all manner of hindrances to the Judeans. This is a common derailment that occurs against Christian endeavors today. Someone somewhere learns of the LORD’s plan for His people and throws every possible obstacle in the way. Sometimes it’s financial; sometimes it’s simply political. Always it’s demonic! Satan is clever. He’s also brutal!

Nevertheless, the LORD will ultimately prevail! Thus, we, His people, must persevere. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psa. 46:1). When we have sincerely and prayerfully sought and received the LORD’s counsel to go forward, we may do so without hesitancy; for He goes before us, breaking down all barriers and enabling us to prosper. There is no power that can prevail against the LORD! Our trust must always be in Him alone!

Heartily 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