Page 169 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

should arrive as soon as possible,” replied Zerubbabel.
“Have you seen a copy of the King’s decree yet,” asked Daniel.
“Yes, Sir, the fast messenger who brought me the King’s summons, brought also

the decree for the emancipation of our people and the restoration of Jerusalem and the
temple. Jehovah seems to have moved upon the heart of our excellent sovereign. The
decree said ‘The Lord God of heaven hath charged me.’ It sounds as though the king
himself has come to faith in our God also, as did Darius. I could not help but wonder

if my being called in has not some connection with the decree.” Thus spoke
Zerubbabel, prince of the fallen house of Judah and Satrap of Persia.
“It is directly connected, Zerubbabel. You have been called from your satrapy and
directed here to my house, at my request. I recommended to the king as soon as the

decree was signed that you, Zerubbabel, should be appointed as political leader of the
people of Judah who return to Jerusalem and that Joshua here, better versed in the law
and of the house of the priests should be their spiritual leader.”
“I have felt for years that you two men were chosen of God for such a service, the

only younger men of the captivity who have shown the necessary qualifications in
faith and ability. The name ‘Zerubbabel’ given you by your parents and by which you
are known among us Hebrews, is a significant one—‘a seed in Babylon’ or ‘a seed in
confusion’— a seed from the plant of faithful Abraham, who believed God and it was

accounted to him for righteousness, sown in the midst of the babel and confusion of
this land from which father Abraham came, for a witness to Jehovah! Though carrying
Hebrew names recognizing our God, none of my three friends nor myself were so
named.” The speech came in short sentences and weak voice from the lips of the aged

patriarch, and he rested a moment before continuing:
“You, Zerubbabel, are placed in a position somewhat similar to that of Moses. He
could have been well-named ‘Zerumizraim’—‘a seed of Egypt.’ He turned his back
on being Pharaoh of Egypt to suffer affliction with Jehovah’s people and to lead them

out, only to receive much persecution at their hands.
“You will have to resign your high office as Satrap of Persia to assume the
thankless task of leading a captive remnant back to the place appointed for us by
Jehovah. You will doubtless be called upon to endure some of the very same kind of

murmuring and criticism that Moses suffered, but all posterity since and all future
generations will know and respect the name of Moses while few know the names of
any Egyptian kings. You can choose the course of ease and worldly preferment now

and fail of the divine commission, or you can resolve to suffer with and for Jehovah’s
afflicted people and give the rest of your life to restoring His city and His temple, and
receive His eternal reward and be enshrined in the hearts of saints of future ages. And
you like Moses will have a Joshua ‘to be your minister’! What say you? concluded the
patriarch.

“I say, sir, that I will accept Jehovah’s call to me at whatever cost to myself. I shall
this day resign to the King my office of satrap, and shall proceed immediately to