God stirs Cyrus to send exiles home to rebuild temple (Ezra 1:1-11; 6:3-4)

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Discussion Questions

• What are the pros and cons of the people of Judah having a new king like Cyrus?
• Describe a possible discussion among a Judean family who is deciding whether or not to join the group heading back to Jerusalem to rebuild.
• What makes it sometimes hard to see God’s hand at work?
• Do you fully embrace God’s use of immoral people? Do you completely resist it? Where on that spectrum do you fall?
• Read Genesis 50:20. ("You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.") Discuss its commonality with today’s passage.
• One set of commentary authors writes that in these situations, we should be “discerning of motives yet confident of outcomes.” What are your thoughts on that statement?