Ezra/Nehemiah

The best laid plans _______.

God's best laid plans _______________.

What do your answers have in common? Or, how do they differ?

When have your plans been transformed to a greater plan of His making?

Ezra 1:1-2

'In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the Lord fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom: “This is what King Cyrus of Persia says: “The Lord , the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has appointed me to build him a Temple at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. '

King Cyrus (Persia), how unlikely to be apart of God's plan?

Why do you think God used a pagan king to fulfill the prophesy of Jeremiah? (ch. 32)

Can people who do not worship Him be directed by Him?

What does this say about God's priorities within His plan?

Cyrus' edict was not to release the Israelites, but to build a temple for God in Jerusalem.

Ezra 1:3-4

'Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord , the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”'

'Any of you who are his people may go to Jerusalem in Judah to rebuild this Temple of the Lord , the God of Israel, who lives in Jerusalem. And may your God be with you! Wherever this Jewish remnant is found, let their neighbors contribute toward their expenses by giving them silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock, as well as a voluntary offering for the Temple of God in Jerusalem.”'

"Any of you who are his people may go"

Ezra 1:5-8

'Then God stirred the hearts of the priests and Levites and the leaders of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin to go to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple of the Lord . And all their neighbors assisted by giving them articles of silver and gold, supplies for the journey, and livestock. They gave them many valuable gifts in addition to all the voluntary offerings.'

'King Cyrus himself brought out the articles that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Lord ’s Temple in Jerusalem and had placed in the temple of his own gods. Cyrus directed Mithredath, the treasurer of Persia, to count these items and present them to Sheshbazzar, the leader of the exiles returning to Judah. '

When we understand that God can use "people unlike me" to accomplish His will...

When has God showered you with abundance?

Whose pattern should we follow?

• Cyrus - someone needs you to use your influence to help them
• The Israelites - God is calling you home to Him, to be reconciled, forgiven.
• God - someone needs you to offer a second chance, to forgive, and to be reconciled.