The Writings of Haggai

Ever since the Tower of Babel, people have been separated from each other.  Nations battle against nations.  Communities fight against communities.  The fight within people is for their identity and their right to exist. Today all over the world people still fight for their identity.  Groups are discriminated against.  People continue to be prejudice.  People have to fight for their right to exist equally with others.  People have to fight to rebuild their lives.

500 years before Christ came to earth, the Jews had returned from captivity.  But they were not well received by those living in Jerusalem. There is conflict between the groups. They need to unite to rebuild the temple but instead they fight.  They make rebuilding their homes and their farms a priority over rebuilding the temple.

It is into this situation that God raises up the prophet Haggai.   God wants to use Haggai to bring unity to the people and to inspire them to rebuild the temple.  As a prophet Haggai does not just inspire the people, he inspires Joshua and Zerubbabel to take on leadership roles in governing the people.

Not every prophet was successful in getting the people to follow the words from God they communicated. But Haggai was successful.  The people came together and completed the work of the temple.

Today Haggai’s words are still effective.  He speaks to people who have been outcast and live apart from society, being seen as not an important part of society.  Haggai brings hope to them, and their role in restoring God’s identity on earth.