Long Seasons? Wrong Battles?
The exiles are united in heart to rebuild the temple after the Lord had given them the ability and freedom to do so. But opposition happens as well. "Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia." Ez 4:4-5
For the next 15 years work is stalled. The difficult season eventually ends, but the people miss out on what could be in the middle of battle.
Their battle was physical. Today, our battle is different. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Eph 6:12
The enemy's tactics are to have us fight each other or even ourselves. He distracts us from being an overcomer in Jesus. Discouraged in Ezra literally means, "to weaken the hands". We've been called to love people and love the Lord, but there will be opposition. If the enemy can he will discourage us and turn us against each other. Lets Ephesians 6:10-18!
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.