Make Them Wait

Today’s Scripture Readings:

• OT: Ezra 4
• NT: Mark 13
• W&W: Psalm 37.23-40

Today’s Reflection:

Not only can waiting be your friend in knowing the will of God and in obtaining the help of God, waiting can also be your friend in discerning the character and intent of those around you. Today’s Old Testament scripture illustrates that. Some men came to Zerubbabel and offered to help rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. In coming, they asserted that they wanted the same thing as did the returning exiles and their leaders.

Along with this unexpected offer of help, some questions surely must have come to Zerubbabel’s mind:

• Why haven’t you begun this work of restoration before now? Why did you wait on us?
• Why didn’t you send for us? Why have we never even heard from you about your concern?
• If you truly seek the Lord, why haven’t you been worshipping him and following his Law all along?
• Why didn’t you help us rebuild the altar of worship and then make sacrifice with us?

Not knowing the character and intent (or perhaps knowing it all too well!) Zerubbabel declined their help. He did not want to jeopardize the project. He probably assumed that any help from these leading citizens would come with strings attached. It turned out that Zerubbabel was right; these who appeared so anxious to help turned against the work when they were told no. They thus showed their true character.

Here is a lesson in leadership. When you don’t know a person’s character and intent, don’t be hasty in accepting their help when thereby you would elevate them to positions of authority, power, and influence. Remember what the Apostle Paul told Timothy in the New Testament: “don’t be hasty in the laying on of hands…” (1 Timothy 5.22).

Make them wait. You will thus have opportunity to see their true character and intent.


This Week’s Scripture to Memorize:
Isaiah 53.1: Who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?