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 pro ...