Ezra 4 - Day 906

Ezra 4 - Day 906 (link to reading)

Scripture: Ezra 4:1-10

Commentary (bibleoutlines.com - Loken): With the progress of the rebuilding project comes the antagonism of those who had previously controlled the land of Israel. This section builds on the previous chapter by detailing the response of the neighbors to the efforts of the Jews. One might anticipate that the foreigners of the land would be hostile to the growing Jewish influence in the province. By this time, they had lived in the province of Judah for decades, many perhaps being born in the land of Israel. Now, a group they currently regarded as “foreigners” was taking their land and influence away.

Application: God gave the "promised" land to the Israelites through their ancestor Abraham.  To this day, Jewish people will cite this agreement to justify their use of force to ensure their rights.  As an outsider, it's easy for me to question their approach, but is this really what God intended?

Prayer: Lord, show us...