With the Babylonian exile in the past, and Jews returning to the land, work of rebuilding the Temple began.  However, the project was pushed aside as the people were putting their personal affairs first.  Things began to happen to the nation. Economic problems unfolded and Natural Disasters began to happen.  Let’s find out what happened some 2500 years ago.

Problem: Financial

Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes (Haggai 1:5,6).

Solution: Do What is Right – Put the Lord First

“Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the Lord (Haggai 1, 7,8).

Problem: Natural Disasters

You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit.  For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands (Haggai 1:9-11).

Solution:  Obedience

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, “I am with you, says the Lord” (Haggai 1:12,13).

Problem:  Doesn’t Look the Same

‘Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing (Haggai 2:3)?

Solution:  Be Strong in the Lord

“Be strong…Be strong…Be strong…for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts…My Spirit remains among you; do not fear (Haggai 2:4,5).

All of It belongs to the Lord:

For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.  ‘The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts (Haggai 2:6-9).

Never Forget:

 ‘And now, carefully consider from this day forward: from before stone was laid upon stone in the temple of the Lord… Is the seed still in the barn? As yet the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have not yielded fruit. But from this day I will bless you’ (Haggai 2:15-19).

Nothing is new!  Because of selfishness, sin, and pride disasters both economic and natural fell upon Israel.  Only when they repented, changed their ways and trusted in the Lord did these calamities change.  There were still scars – it didn’t look the same.  Nevertheless, God was with them and basically He said to them, “Never forget what happened, where you came from and what I did for you!.  I own it all, therefore, bow before me and do what is right!”

Don’t be afraid – God owns it all – trust in Him and be obedient to His Word!