No More Compromise

When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple for Yahweh, the God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the leaders of the families and said to them, "let us build with you, for we also worship your God and have been sacrificing to Him since the time King Esar-Haddin of Assyria brought us here."

But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel's families answered them, "You may have no part with us in building a house for our God, since we alone must build it for Yahweh, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us."

Then the people who were already in the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build. They also bribed officials to act against them to frustrate their plans throughout the region of King Cyrus of Persia and until the reign of King Darius of Persia. Ezra 4:1-5

An offer made is not necessary a good offer. The inhabitants of the land saw a resurgence of the previous owners of the land, they would lose out as these people again came back into power. The beginning of their power would be the re-building of their temple to their God. What better way to frustrate than to infiltrate and cause chaos.

However, the Israelites knew they must be true to God. He was a pure God who demanded worship by a pure people and what the enemies were offering was further destruction.

Once we determine to return to God whole heartedly the enemy will come with his people to dissuade us. Yet having been in captivity for 70 years made the Israelites acutely aware that the reason they were deported to Babylon in the first place was impure hearts. They could ill afford to go there so soon on their return.

We cannot afford to mix our motives wih those of the world. If we turn again to the Lord then we must give Him all and not water our devotion down with a smattering of worldly ways. The Lord is looking for a people who will devout themselves to Him only. Amen!