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

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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?