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Between the Old and New Testament, there are 400 hundred-plus-years when God did not speak to the Israelites. The reasons are many and they are seen in the events leading up to the birth of the Messiah. Since the rebellion of Adam and Eve, God has kept the Jews secure and safe. As much as they tried otherwise, God pulled them together as his people.
Now, living in exile for 70 years, it was time to return to Jerusalem, the Holy City. Ezra and Nehemiah began to rebuild the Temple and protective walls. Quite naturally, those City/nations around Jerusalem did not want that to happen. While the workers built with one hand, the other one was holding a weapon to defend themselves.
Much is written by Nehemiah that guards were posted day and night because the world is a nasty place, it is a war-zone between good people and the bad ones. From the beginning, satan has infected some people with a war-like attitude. Still, those who wanted the Jews dead were planning ways to get Nehemiah away from his protection so they might kill him.
satan attempts to destroy anyone who takes the side of God. He cannot do it himself, but he infects the attitudes of the human God-haters and they are willing to murder. One obvious reason why God is not speaking to his people is the fact they just spent seventy years in captivity: they are home now but still doing the same sins. Nehemiah had to lay a sermon on the business-folks of the Jews for they made slaves out of their own people.
In four hundred years, Israel will have a monumental choice to make -- will they accept the God-appointed Messiah? When Jesus was born, His nature was the same as His Father which is love, forgiveness, peace, kindness and understanding. Israel wanted Jesus' nature to be like that of King David, the warrior one! Israel did not want to forgive anyone for past injustices received.
America has many folks with the same attitude. No matter what nationality we are, forgiveness is not a sought-after quality so we just keep on being hateful to others. When the Messiah does return, it will be this same Jesus who is ready to make the world a New Heaven. Are we ready for that?