ENEMIES. Ezra 4:1-5 The enemies of Judah and Benjamin employed the most common methods of opposition: blending, compromising, cross-pollinating, and mixing to weaken faith in God. At first glance, there didn’t seem to be any hostility; after all, these friendly people wanted to help them build the temple. But their true goal was to help create something that would fit their own religious practices. They “seek your God and have been sacrificing to him” for a long time. What they were really doing was mixing idolatry and pagan gods with a form of Israelite worship. By doing this, the Lord God of Israel was to them no more than the other gods of the land and their own imaginations.
Obedience to God’s word has a cost that most people are reluctant to pay. Many have grown accustomed to a certain way of life and resist any changes. This is a persistent issue throughout human history and remains widespread today. The only changes people desire are more freedom to sin. Anti-Christian comments and mockery are often used by the media as well as by those who teach our children in public schools. Many university professors deliberately seek to undermine the faith of young believers and will exploit their positions to make Christians appear foolish before impressionable students.
Opposition has multiple ways to try to bring down God’s people. Threats, various obstacles, and even bribery are still used today just as they were during the days of rebuilding the temple. Unity can only happen if it is based on what God approves. The fellowship of light and darkness creates a false twilight that is partly true and partly false. When these two are mixed, everything becomes false. Opposition may start with compromise, but when that is rejected, alliances are formed against the truth by those who do not want God's work to move forward. These alliances then use intimidation and accusations to hinder and stop what is of God.
When that deception didn’t work, and compromise was rejected, intimidation, false accusations, unjust criticism, and innuendo were spread against a righteous work. The enemies of the Jews who were rebuilding the temple began their assault by pretending to be friends and using compromise as a way to undermine God's work. Their claims of sincerity were apparently easily seen through by Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and they rejected their offer to participate.
To mix the worship of God with the "worship" common to Christendom is sin. True worship is directed to God alone, in spirit and in truth. Many people claim to be Christians for their own interests. "Christian" is only a word to them, not "one of Christ's." That is one reason why discernment is so necessary when deception and confrontation arise. False friendship, undermining a work by creating weakness, and planned interference, falsehood, and deceit are all ways in which the world, the flesh, and the devil use to stop what is of God. These obstacles against a righteous work can be expected when God is working through His people.
It is in moments like these that our faith and dedication to God are tested. We must seek our guidance from Him through His word and the work of the Holy Spirit to move forward in ways that please Him. Some people will use “Christianity” to promote their own interests, attending assembly meetings to “interface” with those who might help advance their business interests. Others want to promote false doctrine, and still others see believers who gather in assemblies as a “soft touch.”
Discouragement and fear can weaken God’s people, causing them to wither and eventually give up. Sometimes this comes from unexpected sources and people. The unity of God’s people around His word can help overcome this kind of opposition. When pressure is applied to make us change or accept what we know is not from God, we must stand strong in faith with one mind, in one accord, “striving together for the faith of the Gospel.”
Discouragement can turn into hopelessness. Hopelessness fosters a "Too bad. There's nothing we can do" mindset. Discouragement and fear can paralyze God's people and prevent what is right. Opposition doesn't mean a work is wrong; often, it means the opposite. The devil won't oppose something he's already in control of. We must accept that there will be unified opposition as the Gospel spreads worldwide to those places and people Satan claims as his own.