(REFLECTIONS ON Ezra 4:1-24)

4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

As the exiles returned to Jerusalem, work quickly began on the foundations of the temple of the Lord. Even though those returning were determined to complete this important task, however as quickly as the passion to begin the project came, so did frustrations that would put a pause to the work. This pause was not a quick pause, but the frustrations that the people experienced endangered the entire rebuilding project to be shut down and even abandoned.

These frustrations were caused by the enemies of Judah and Benjamin that set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. This frustration lasted during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

In between Cyrus and Darius were two kings of Persia, Xerxes and Artaxerxes. Those that opposed the rebuilding project lodged an accusation against the people of Judah and Jerusalem at the beginning of the reign of King Xerxes and during the reign of King Artaxerxes, the work was called to a halt.

24 Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Today we are reminded that no matter how good our intentions are in building up the church, the kingdom of God, and our own personal relationship with God, many times it is the frustrations in life, and the frustrations that come from the world around us that bring our work to a halt.

Yes, we may be filled with the Holy Spirit, have a calling from God, have a passion for Jesus, and are being led by the power of the Holy Spirit and not our own strength, but still when frustrations come sometimes it is like sharp knife that cuts the connection between us and God.

Frustrations are a part of life and we experience frustrations all the time in both our professional and personal lives, so it is no surprise that in our faith we experience frustrations as well. Today’s Scripture reminds us to be aware of the frustrations in our life that get in the way of us completing the work of the Lord.

The Lord is reminding us today, that in Him frustrations don’t disappear, but when they do rear their ugly head, we can be better prepared to OVERCOME. Yes, frustrations come to mess us up, to throw us off, to cut off our connection with the Spirit, but the word that the Lord is giving us today is OVERCOME.

Let us OVERCOME with the power of the Holy Spirit, and to step on the frustrations in our life in His name, and see the miracles that will come because we stand firm in our faith despite frustrations and opposition. Frustrations are an opportunity for miracles, let us OVERCOME in Jesus Name, and share of the miracles rather than be flooded by the frustrations.

Pastor Michael Lu
Enduring Word Bible Commentary: Ezra 4