Did you get the memo? That God is in complete control! Ezra 1-6

Ezra 6:22
" And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel."

What a great-great story we have here at the hand of Ezra, the scribe.    He has given us an unfolding story of God's sovereign rule in the hearts of man.  If you ever thought you were up against something and you needed to have a mountain moved to get it done, this is the story to read.    It begins with God putting into the heart of a non-believing king, King Cyrus, of Persia, the desire to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.   We don't know why he would want to rebuild the temple, only that he did.  We can assume it was political reasons, but, we KNOW it was from the act of God placing it in his heart because he told us that in chapter one.   However, like most great works the work would take time and King Cyrus would die and two more kings would reign in his stead.    Weeks became months and months became years and the work sat idle.    Haggai the prophet is speaking to the nation at this time and encourages them to keep building, even though the local politicians and power-brokers were persuading the current king to force them to stop.  This is were the story takes on special meaning.   Once again the local politicians try to stop the work and appeal to the new king, Artaxerxes.  Art is not fool and he checks the historical data and finds a memo from King Cyrus, explaining the purpose of the work. Art not only tells the local politicians to let the work go on but to provide whatever the workers need, daily, to accomplish the work.   The above verse is the conclusion of the whole story as the small, returning remnant celebrates the new temple, giving glory to God as He and HE alone, caused them to rejoice.   God had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them.   Only a big God and turn an evil heart toward His people.   God is the one who opens these doors and makes things happen for His plan.

Proverbs 21:1
" The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it wherever He wishes."