Awakened out of Apathy

In the last chapter (Ezra 4), we studied the fierce resistance and opposition that came against the people of God as they began construction upon the foundation that had been laid. First the enemy tried the subtil approach and extended an invitation to "work together" on the temple. Of course, the real motive of the enemy was to "creep in unawares" (Jude 1:4; 2 Tim. 3:6) and damage the work of God from within. That having failed due to the spiritual vigilance of the leaders of the remnant, the enemy throws the mask off, shows his true colors and commences a full, frontal assault against the work.

Ezra 5 is a wonderful encouragement that set backs in the Christian walk do not have to remain permanent if we will but submit to a fresh, reviving move of the Spirit of God in our lives. Ezra 5 is the record of how God reversed the damage of the enemy and the work was resumed.