Ezra 1Ezra 1:3 - Cyrus gave all the Jews an open opportunity to go back and rebuild the city.Ezra 1:4 - The plunder from Nebuchadnezzar’s destruction of the temple would return with the exiles. This was a great blessing from God to help the operation get started.Nehemiah 2:5-9 - God blesses Nehemiah in his return to Jerusalem as well.Many times in the Old Testament, we have examples of God presenting people with big opportunities, but still requiring people to seize that opportunity.Noah, the Israelites taking the promised land, the fall of Jericho (Johua 6:2,16,3-4,20)If people do not seize the opportunities that God gives them, it is their own fault!Ezra 1:11 - God made it possible for the materials to go back to Jerusalem, but Sheshbazzar was the agent that actually carried it out.Haggai 1:12-15God’s plan of salvation works in a similar way. He gives us the opportunity, but we must seize it! (Acts 2:38-41 God calls us through His gospel, but we have to answer that call. God does not call us in some miraculous way - the call comes through hearing God’s word recorded in the Bible.
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