Fifty-Two Days in Nehemiah (Day 15)

Day 15

“…Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”

Nehemiah 4:14

Discouragement is a natural part of trying to accomplish something great. Physically, we get tired. Mentally, we fatigue. Emotionally, we wear out. In these times we need something solid to hold on to. We need something of substance that will help us to believe again.

Nehemiah’s team has been working for a number of days. They have used up all the rocks, for the building of the wall, that were easily accessible. They are now having to dig for rocks amongst the rubble. What was moving quickly has now become a laborious task. Add to that, their enemies are making threats and causing them to feel unsafe. As if that was not enough, their family members are growing uneasy and pleading with them to come home.

Nehemiah has to do something or his forces will soon disperse. He must find a way to encourage them, to cause them to believe again. With the same wisdom he has shown repeatedly, Nehemiah reminds them of what matters. First, he says, “do not be afraid of them.” Second, he exhorts them to “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.” Third, he tells them to remember what they are fighting for; their families and their future. And finally, he says, remember your homes.

Often, we can press through difficult times by remembering what is at stake. If God has called you to something, you will likely experience the same things as Nehemiah’s team. To over come this, remember the same things they were asked to remember; fear is irrational, God is great, those coming behind that are depending on you, and this will impact the place you live. With a right perspective, we can accomplish great things.

Fifty-Two Days in Nehemiah (Day 14)

Day 14

Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sins be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.

Nehemiah 4:4-5

There is a tremendous temptation to take things into our own hands when we have been wronged. It is a natural desire to want to see justice. However, when we take things into our hands, we will so often get it wrong. We are short-sighted, emotional, and at times irrational. However, God will never get it wrong.

When Nehemiah is dealing with his detractors, he avoids the temptation to settle the score himself. Instead, he stays focused on the task at hand, prays about those who are making things difficult, and continues to fulfill his God-given call.

When Jesus is hanging on the cross, we see Him pray as well. Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Stephen prays the same as he is being stoned to death in Acts 7. However, this is not the prayer Nehemiah prays. Nehemiah’s is a prayer of vengeance. It is important to note why Nehemiah does this: he prays, “They have provoked you (God) to anger." It was about God’s name, not Nehemiah’s.

When we deal with mean, selfish, hurtful people, it is hard not to become vindictive. However, we must remember that allowing ourselves to get lost in anger, saying and doing things we would not ordinarily say and do, it hurts us more than anyone. Let’s take a lesson from Jesus, Stephen, and Nehemiah. Make it a matter of prayer and trust God with the results. He can do more in a moment than we can in a lifetime.

Fifty-Two Days in Nehemiah (Day 13)

Day 13

…”What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that? Tobaiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building – if a fox goes up on it he will break dow their stone wall!

Nehemiah 4:2-3

To question one’s own ability seems fairly natural. In fact, questioning one’s own ability for the purpose of getting better or recruiting help is a healthy thing. However, when we allow these questions to paralyze us to the point of inaction, it becomes unhealthy. The truth is, we well never answer every question we have about our own qualifications, abilities, and skills.

As Nehemiah began building the wall, he did not have a chance to question himself. Sanballat and Tobiah did it for him. Clearly, there was nothing constructive about the questions they asked. These questions were designed to create doubt and destroy confidence.

It is important for us to recognize that the devil will cause us, or someone else, to ask the same type of questions about our ability. Notice the progression of questions that were asked. The first was a personal insult; “what are the feeble Jews doing?” Next, a question of ability; “will they restore it themselves?” Next a question of faith; “will they [offer] sacrifice?” Next a question of ample time; “will they restore it in a day?” Next a question of resourcing; “will they revive the stones out of heaps of rubble?” And finally, a question of quality; “if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”

Not a single one of these questions was rooted in faith. They were insults designed to discourage. Be careful of the kind of questions you ask yourself or allow others to ask you. Be a person of faith, not of doubt.