[This Article is taken from the Embrace Israel Newsletter]

When idolatrous Judah kindled the wrath of God to the point of severe judgment, He let their enemies carry them into the Babylonian exile in three successive deportations. 2- Chronicles 36:15-17 records the tragic verdict, saying, "And the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, until there was no remedy."

Their cup of iniquities filled under the ungodly rule of young king Zedekiah, Judah was cut off from God's blessing and shelter and was carried into captivity, while the land itself entered into the rest of its neglected Sabbaths. Humbled and oppressed in their exile, the Hebrews once again longed for freedom and national vindication, this time not from Egypt's scorching deserts but from the lush Babylonian plains of Mesopotamia. In their shame and despair, their hope for restoration was never the less firmly rooted in God's prophetic word as the time neared the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecy.

And as the season arrived for the promised restitution of both nation and land, we find the descendants of those exiled Jews returning to the Promised Land in three successive waves of immigration, as was their deportation nearly seventy year prior. Zerubbabel led the first one, Ezra the second nearly sixty years later, and Nehemiah the third, twenty years after that. Each man carried unique anointing, grace, and skills to fulfill their assigned tasks.

God can work His miracles any way He chooses, and He does. But when it comes to Israel's national restoration, His mercies and concern for the nations compel Him to invite them to join in His labors. And, as the nations choose their position regarding God's purpose for the Jew, so they obtain, or lose, favor with Him. When the seventy years of exile reached their completion and it was time for the Jews to return to the land and rebuild the Temple, Cyrus the Persian was raised up to serve that purpose.

Ezra wrote, "Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, 'Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem.

"'And every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold, with goods and cattle, together with a freewill offering for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.' Then the heads of fathers' households of Judah and Benjamin and the priests and the Levites arose, even everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up and rebuild the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem.

"And all those about them encouraged them with articles of silver, with gold, with goods, with cattle, and with valuables, aside from all that was given as a freewill offering. Also King Cyrus brought out the articles of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and put in the house of his gods; and Cyrus, king of Persia, had them brought out... and he counted them out to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah... All the articles of gold and silver numbered 5,400. Sheshbazzar brought them all up with the exiles who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem." Ezra 1:1-11.

From this detailed account we find that Cyrus, the world ruler of that generation who symbolizes all the human powers that would rule the nations, has not just issued the decree to release the captive Jews to return to their promised land, but took decisive measures to secure the provisions needed for the mission. He was not only sovereignly raised, but was also anointed by the Spirit of the Lord to serve that purpose and to provide for the building of the House of the Lord in Jerusalem.

As Isaiah prophesied hundreds of years earlier, "Thus says the LORD to Cyrus His anointed, whom I have taken by the right hand, to subdue nations before him, and to loose the loins of kings; to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut... And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden wealth of secret places, in order that you may know that it is I, the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by your name. For the sake of Jacob My servant, and Israel my chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me... he will build my city, and will let my exiles go free, without any payment or reward,' says the LORD of hosts." Isaiah 45:1-4, 13.

And indeed, following the sudden defeat of the Babylonian Empire on that fateful night when Daniel interpreted the mysterious handwriting on the wall, Cyrus issued a decree in 538 BC permitting the exiled Judeans to return to their land, and ordering the residents of his domain to support these returning Jews. He was not simply acting politically in pursuit of a worldly agenda, but gave clear and bold testimony to the fact that the God of Heaven appointed him to this mission. This was a divine assignment, Cyrus knew it, and he made it known to all!

Today, God is cultivating the same grace in the hearts of many of His servants all over the world. The anointing that was upon Cyrus, a Gentile ruler, to release the Jews and support their task to build the House of the Lord in Jerusalem is reappearing in the church today. Some of you who may be reading these words for the first time, or hearing them anew, are stirred by God's Spirit as did Cyrus of old to supply for and sustain God's move of restoration concerning His House in Jerusalem. Others are already engaged in sacrificial and strategic giving toward that prophetic restoration, and you we bless and commend in the name of the Lord Jesus. For information as to how you can give wisely and responsibly toward the support of the saints in Israel, please contact our office in the USA.

As the foundations and walls of the Temple in Jerusalem were being raised under the leading of Zerubbabel and the elders, opposition arose as well. Ezra recounts in chapters four and five how local and international forces sought to compromise, frustrate, and stop the work of the Temple. Facing physical intimidation, deep discouragement, and fierce legal battles, the builders ceased from building for fourteen years. Then Darius the First responded to their appeal, conducted an honest search in the royal archives, discovered Cyrus' original decree, and resumed construction on the Temple.

In fact, not only did king Darius vindicate the builders and reinitiated the construction of God's House in Jerusalem, he also commanded that their enemies in the region (led by the corrupt and hostile officials) cover the construction costs from their treasuries. In his letter king Darius wrote, "In the first year of King Cyrus, Cyrus the king issued a decree: 'Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the temple, the place where sacrifices are offered, be rebuilt and let its foundations be retained... and let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.

"'And also let the gold and silver utensils of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem... Now therefore, Tatiana, governor of the province beyond the River... and your colleagues, the officials... keep away from there. Leave this work on the house of God alone; let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site."

And, as if to add insult to injury, Darius wrote, "Moreover, I issue a decree concerning what you are to do for these elders of Judah in the rebuilding of this house of God: the full cost is to be paid to these people from the royal treasury out of the taxes of the provinces beyond the River, and that without delay. And whatever is needed, both young bulls, rams, and lambs for a burnt offering to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, and anointing oil, as the priests in Jerusalem request, it is to be given to them daily without fail, that they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons." Ezra 6:3-10

The last sentence reveals it all. The bottom line for king Darius was not merely adherence to Cyrus' previous decree, or even obedience to God's commandment. These in place, He was also motivated by a clear revelation that he is obtaining favor with the One True God who dwells in Jerusalem. Thus he concluded his history-making edict by reminding the builders of God's House in Jerusalem to offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of Heaven on his behalf, and pray for his own life and family.

This also is the bottom line for many of God's servants today. Upholding and supporting the Lord's move in Israel, which is the emerging House of God, His dwelling place among His people, is not only a matter of historical justice or even technical obedience to God's word. It is also an expression of a personal faith-recognition that there is a rich blessing and a lasting benefit to those who take a clear stand and action toward the returning Jew.

And so we, too, add our blessing to your faith, thanking God for your sacrifice and generosity toward the building of the House of the Lord in Israel. By God's own wisdom He determined that Israel be led toward her inevitable encounter with her Messiah leaning on Gentile hands. The ancient debt of love will be paid back at the closing of this age, and as Israel gave birth to the church in the first century, so the church will now give birth to Israel in the last.

Thank you for joining us in these labors. God knows the cry of your heart and will repay you richly. We pray for His Spirit to rest upon your life, your mind, and body, refreshing, comforting, and strengthening you for tomorrow's tasks. Thank you for holding up our household in daily prayer. We are back in the West for the Holidays, and will return to Israel early next year. This was a very stretching and testing year with much transition and change, and often we sensed that the prayers of the saints carried up through the fires and waters. Thank you.
 
 

IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, WE BLESS YOU.
PASTOR REUVEN DORON AND FAMILY

Embrace Israel Ministries
PO Box 10077
Cedar Rapids, IA
52410-0077 USA
Voice: (319) 393-1096 Fax: (319) 393-2912
Prayer Fax-On-Demand: (319) 626-1177
E-Mail: mailbox@embraceisrael.org
Internet site: www.embraceisrael.org

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