Ezra 4 - Overcoming Opposition

Icebreaker:-

Conflict management is one of the most needed courses in the work training programme.  In today’s society there are so many times when people plan for conflict and try to use force – or at least forceful arguments – to put their viewpoint across. Another way is to make a real nuisance of themselves and stop other people to make them listen. We have recently seen protestors gluing themselves to roadways to stop the traffic in order to put across their particular points and to get publicity. It certainly got the publicity, did it achieve their aims?

How do we choose to resolve conflict?

Opposition to the Rebuilding

This is the story of a stage in the rebuilding work where those who surrounded the Jews who had returned from exile were opposed to the work being done and tried various strategies to stop it.

Read the chapter together:-  Perhaps you could use different people to read different sections to get the various “voices”

Voice 1  Verses 1 – 8      Voice 2 verses 9 – 16   Voice 3 verse 17 – 22  Voice 4 verses 23  and 24.

It should be understood that the Persian kings managed their vast empires by having spies in many different parts.  They were known as the “ears and eyes” of the kings and were well paid to send information back to the King at every opportunity.  They knew how to approach the king and were not afraid to do so they knew he could only retain control by knowing what was going on.

Question 1:  What do you notice about the enemies first style of approach?  (verses 1 and 2)

Question 2:  What was the response?  (verse 3). Do you see the conflict being solved or made worse by this response?

Question 3:   Verses 4 and 5 tell us what the people around them did – do you see how persistent they were?

This conflict went on for years and became tiresome for those who were simply wanting to rebuild the temple. A real hindrance and a fear of war or threats of danger constantly in front of them. Why did it go on so long?

Question 5:   A letter is written to the king in Aramaic language (the international language during the Persian period). Why do you think that there are so many names associated with it?

Question 6:   What do you see in the letter which shows bias towards a viewpoint?  Verses 11 – 16

Question 7:    What were the writers hoping to achieve?

Just a thought:-
If we did a Google search today about Jerusalem do you think we would find a history of revolt and rebellion?

Question 8:  Look at the king’s response and then the response of the people who received it. Do you think this was justified?

The protestors for the time being got their way and the work was stopped by force because it seems the king felt it was to the detriment of royal interests.

In today’s situation, can you see any similarities between our need to rebuild the church after the pandemic and this chapter in Ezra?

What can we do as Christians to ensure that conflict is managed well?

How can we avoid conflict or what can we do to bring God’s peace and Harmony to our village and our world?

 
Time for prayer:- 

If you like music you might like to listen to or sing the song  “Make me a Channel of your peace”

This reminds us to seek peace and pursue it.

We pray that we will all bring comfort and joy to our neighbours and that we will treat all people well.