“Start Again and Finish the Work”

Ezra 5–6 shows what happens when a work that had been stopped begins again.In Ezra 4, opposition had succeeded in bringing the Temple construction to a halt.The foundation existed.The people were back in the land.But the house of God remained unfinished.Then God sent His Word through the prophets Haggai and Zechariah.Their preaching awakened the people.Zerubbabel and Jeshua began rebuilding again.Immediately, government officials questioned the work.But this time the people did not simply quit.They kept building while the matter was investigated.A letter was sent to King Darius.The Persian records were searched.And something remarkable happened:The original decree of Cyrus was found.The very government authority that could have stopped the project instead ordered that the work continue.More than that—the government was commanded to help pay for it.Then the Temple was completed.It was dedicated.Sacrifices were offered.The priests and Levites were organized.Passover was celebrated.And the people rejoiced because the Lord had turned the heart of the king toward them.These chapters teach us that a delayed assignment can begin again, God’s Word can restore courage, opposition should be answered with truth and integrity, God can use authority to protect His purposes, and what God calls us to rebuild should not remain permanently unfinished.Welcome to EveryDayWord — the daily podcast of Derrick J. Dawkins Evangelistic Association!
 Here we open the Bible from Genesis to Revelation — reading it, breaking it down, and praying it through — all in a powerful 60-minute journey through God’s Word.Because as Scripture declares:“All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
 — 2 Timothy 3:16So grab your Bible, open your heart, and let’s get into the Word!