Ezra 4-7 How to ruin another's life

May 22nd, Ezra 4-7

       Today's text is filled with some slippery characters. If you want to learn how people will undermine you, it's all in here...

1. Lie and tell you they are on your side. We're with you, let us join your cause!!
2. Discouragement: finding underhanded ways to plant doubt and disbelief.
3. Accuse. The devil is master at this, he is the "accuser of the bretheren." Don't doubt it will happen.
4. Lie again, but go over your head. Ignore the chain of command, and bring lies to your superiors.
5. Gather evidence to build a case against you. In the case today, the facts were actually true. But   assembling the series of facts is evidence of their lack of desire to help, not the desire they first stated.
6. Lie and make up new facts. The were just rebuilding the Temple but accused of rebuilding the walls as well.
7. Big winner... claim these people won't pay their taxes. That always gets a king nervous.
8. Claim to the authority over you that their actions will create big loss of territory as well.

       In life there is all manner of undermining what the Lord wills. People live in a constant attempt to sabotage change and leadership. I say all of this not to be negative, but to call attention to the reality of life. To be able to identify when these issues are coming up in the midst of your own leadership. Ezra was doing nothing wrong. These people didn't want the temple rebuilt and would do or say anything to put a stop to it.
       I like the people's response to the King's edict to stop building. They kept on doing what they had permission to do from Cyrus. When questioned by governors concerning the authority by which they were still working, they simply said, "Cyrus told us we could," check out your records!!
       There is a great boldness of faith there. To lead in adversity from within and without. To persevere through a vast array of expectations. To know God's call in our life and not be distracted from it... very good stuff. May it be so for us!