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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “An offer to help refused” An offer to help refused means that the person to whom the offer was made has declined it. We shall reflect on the fact that some people may appear to be helpers but enemies of progress; therefore, we must pray for discernment to know which help to accept and which to refuse.

Beloved in the Lord, not all helpers have good intentions; therefore, we need the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us to genuine helpers. Ezra 4:1-4 describes the opposition the Jews faced when they began rebuilding the temple after their return from exile in Babylon. The local inhabitants, who were enemies of the Jews, offered to help but were refused by the leaders, like Zerubbabel and Joshua, who wanted to maintain the purity of the project. Their adversaries were the Samaritans, displaced foreigners who held a mix of Israelite beliefs and their own traditions. They had been living in the land of Israel since they were brought there by the Assyrians to replace the exiled ten tribes (II Kings 17:24). The Samaritans became the controlling presence in the land once Solomon’s Temple was destroyed and the Judeans were exiled. When the Israelites refused their offer of help to build the temple, the adversaries became hostile, frightening the Jewish people and bribing officials to hinder their efforts and halt the construction of the temple. We are told, “But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” 4 Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. 5 They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus, king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius, king of Persia. (Ezra 4:3-5)

Dear friends, let us beware of manipulative helpers whose desire is to use their help as an entrapment and influence over our lives. Not all helpers are genuine; some helpers are enemies in disguise. Indeed, we have genuine helpers and enemy helpers. Enemy helpers are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Many have become victims of an abusive relationship because their spouse or helper has become their devourer. Some churches lack unity, purpose and growth because some leaders and those who claim to be helping the church are the same people destroying it through abuse of power, vindictiveness and manipulative schemes. The Israelites knew that God was their helper and would equip them to build His temple. God was capable of providing them with genuine helpers, not those who have evil intentions, but pretend to be helpers. A classical example of today’s lesson is found in Matthew 4:1-11, the devil pretended to help Jesus during His forty days’ fasting by suggesting to Jesus to turn stones into bread, jump from the temple to be saved by angels, and worship him in exchange for all the world’s kingdoms. Jesus resisted the three temptations by quoting scripture to avoid using his divine power for selfish reasons. We are told, Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.” (Matthew 4:11) Again, Jesus told his disciples for the first time that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, be killed, and be resurrected on the third day. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:22-24) Peter appeared to be helping Jesus, but his help was in contradiction to God’s purpose and will for Jesus. Not all helpers are helpful, and not all helpers have good intentions. The God who has called us will provide helpers when the time is due and according to His purpose and will in our lives. Jesus admonished us, “… do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’… But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31,33) In other words, when we focus on God, He will provide our needs, including the genuine helpers in our lives. When we focus only on our needs, we are likely to receive help from enemy helpers, but when we allow God to lead us and we seek first His righteousness, he will provide genuine helpers and enable us to identify enemy helpers.

In summary, we have discovered that not all that glitters is gold. Some helpers may not help us to fulfil God’s will; therefore, we must always pray for discernment to identify and receive help from genuine helpers. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to discern between genuine helpers and those who are not. Amen.