Between Decree and Fulfillment: The Struggles of a People Under Divine Mandate -By Leonard Karshima Shilgba

In the grand sweep of redemptive history, few moments shine brighter than the decree of Cyrus the Great, the Persian emperor who, in 538 BC, fulfilled Divine prophecy (through Prophet Jeremiah) by liberating the Jews from Babylonian captivity. Inspired, as the biblical text affirms, by “the LORD, the God of heaven”, Cyrus authorized the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had destroyed in 586 BC (Ezra 1:1–4). This moment was not merely a political or imperial policy—it was a divine orchestration foretold by the prophet Isaiah nearly two centuries earlier (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1), affirming the divine purpose for Cyrus, who was mentioned by name in the prophecy whereas neither he nor his parents were born at the time of the prophecy! Yet, what followed after that liberating decree is an enduring lesson in the tension between promise and process, divine will and human resistance.

From Cyrus’s Decree to Darius’s Confirmation:

The initial return from exile, led by Zerubbabel, the appointed governor, was marked by optimism. The altar was rebuilt, and the foundation of the new temple was laid (Ezra 3). However, it wasn’t long before opposition arose: Samaritan adversaries (In the days of the global dominance of the Assyrian Empire, some foreigners were relocated into Israel, while northern Jews were taken into captivity by the Assyrians, leaving only a remnant behind. This was the origin of the claim) claiming allegiance to the God of Israel, offered to join in the building, but were rightly rebuffed by Zerubbabel and the other leaders (Ezra 4:1–3). Offended and threatened, these adversaries began a campaign of discouragement and political subversion.

By the time Cyrus died around 530 BC, his son and successor, Cambyses II, took the throne. Though Cyrus had clearly decreed the rebuilding of the Jewish temple, Cambyses showed little interest in enforcing that order. He was preoccupied with military conquests—particularly the invasion of Egypt—and had no personal religious investment in Yahweh’s temple. The eight-year gap between Cyrus’s decree and Cambyses’ ascension may have been enough for imperial priorities to shift. Consequently, the temple project languished for nearly two decades.

Darius’s Intervention and the Temple’s Completion:

When Darius I ascended the throne in 522 BC, the Jewish elders, stirred by the prophetic voices of Haggai and Zechariah, resumed the work (Ezra 5). This drew renewed opposition from local officials who wrote a letter to Darius questioning the legitimacy of the reconstruction. To resolve the matter, Darius ordered a search of the royal archives, and indeed, a scroll was found in Ecbatana, verifying Cyrus’s decree.

Darius not only upheld the decree but added his own support—mandating that expenses be covered from the imperial treasury and forbidding further interference (Ezra 6:6–12). The temple was completed in 516 BC, exactly 70 years after its destruction by the Babylonians, fulfilling Jeremiah’s prophecy (Jeremiah 25:11–12).

Later Opposition: The Wall Controversy under Artaxerxes I:

Decades later, under King Artaxerxes I (reigning from 465 BC to 424 BC), Jerusalem again faced opposition—not over the temple, now long completed, but over the rebuilding of its walls. Ezra 4:7–23 records a strategic petition by adversaries, who warned the king that allowing Jerusalem to be fortified was a threat to Persian authority. Artaxerxes, taking the warning seriously, issued an order halting the project.

However, this same king, years later, would authorize Nehemiah, his Jewish cupbearer, to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the city walls (Nehemiah 2). This occurred around 444 BC (the year of the start of the countdown of God’s decreed “70 weeks” of the Divine plan as recorded in Daniel 9: 24-27), in the 20th year of Artaxerxes’ reign. Nehemiah was not only granted letters of safe passage but also access to imperial resources. The same king who once halted the wall-building now became its chief enabler. The walls were rebuilt in just 52 days—a testament to divine favor and human determination (Nehemiah 6:15–16).

Was Artaxerxes I Esther’s Foster Son?

A compelling but unprovable tradition suggests that Artaxerxes I may have been the son of Esther’s husband, King Xerxes I (Ahasuerus), who reigned from 486 BC to 465 BC, making him Esther’s stepson or foster son. While the Bible does not explicitly name Esther’s offspring, Artaxerxes’ favorable disposition toward Ezra and Nehemiah, both Jewish leaders, has led some scholars to conjecture a possible maternal influence.

Though speculative, this possibility fits within the broader theme of God positioning His people in strategic places for the fulfillment of His purposes—“for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

Between Promise and Fulfillment: The Christian Parallel:

The story of the returned exiles teaches us that God’s decrees do not preclude human opposition or “delay”. A divine promise is not a magical wand that dissolves adversity and adversary. Between the word of promise and the moment of fulfillment, God’s people often face hostility, apathy, discouragement, and systemic resistance.

Today’s Christian may be assured of salvation, provision, or calling—but still confront spiritual warfare, societal opposition, or bureaucratic inertia. Like the Jews in Jerusalem, we must be willing to dig through the archives of God’s Word, appeal to His righteous judgments, and endure through seasons of apparent delay.

As Paul wrote, “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Yet, in God’s time, walls are rebuilt, temples are completed, and decrees find their fulfillment—not because opposition ceases, but because the God of heaven prevails all the time and has the FINAL SAY.

In Romans 15: 4, we find those enlightening words:

“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

Doubtless, you are awed by God’s deep and detailed foreknowledge, his incomparable dominance, and tremendous faithfulness exhibited in the narrative above. All these are for your comfort. In your patience and hope toward God, the promises of God will come through in your life. Your testimony is at the door.

© Shilgba