Most of us are acquainted with opposition. We know all too well what it’s like to have people against us or resisting what we’re doing.

Opposition is a prominent theme in the book of Ezra. God moved heaven and earth to get His people back to Judah so they could rebuild the temple. But opposition arose. Fierce opposition. Again and again. Over and over.

Perhaps you’ve wondered as I have: Since God so convincingly stirred Cyrus King of Persia to (a) release the Jews from captivity in Babylon, and (b) facilitate their return to Judah for the express purpose of rebuilding the temple, how is it that God then allowed such fierce opposition to rebuilding the temple (something He very clearly wanted accomplished)? The opposition was so strong that it delayed the temple rebuilding for years! Why would God allow that?

Here are a few (but certainly not the only) reasons God may allow opposition to come our way:

1. To cause us to turn to Him for help. To help us grasp that our strength and resolve are insufficient.

2. To test our determination to obey. Just how committed are we to doing what God has commanded?

3. To identify deficiencies in our character. Are we people-pleasers? Ruled by fear? Lacking courage? Quitters? God often uses opposition to purify the gold of our character.

In Ezra 4 when the opposition arose and a decree was received from the king to stop the rebuilding, the workers just quit right there on the spot. No pushback on the decree. No prayer or fasting or crying out to God. They just ceased working (4:24).

But in Ezra 5 when the opposition arose, the builders had a completely different response. They just kept right on building in spite of the opposition (5:5).

How are you responding to the opposition that has come against you?