Tuesday, August 13
Read Nehemiah 2
Think About It:
- Unknown to him, Nehemiah was about to join the glorious ranks of the “Champions of Faith”; and in the centuries to follow, his name would be included with heroes like Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Esther, Deborah, and David! One person can make a big difference in this world if that person knows the Living God and really trusts Him. He had faith to wait – About four months passed when he had received the news about the plight of Jerusalem. Nehemiah patiently waited on the Lord for directions; and one day he allowed his sorrow to show. The king noticed the countenance of his cup bearer. He was fearful but prayed (see how the enemy gets in when you have a task to accomplish). Also, this quick prayer was backed up with 4 months of fasting and praying.
He had faith to ask. What do you want? All the power and wealth of the empire was wrapped up in that question! Instead of telling the king what he planned to do, he aroused the king’s sympathy and interest with a question regarding how he should feel about the sad plight of his ancestral city and the graves of his forefathers. Not only had Nehemiah prayed for this opportunity, he planned for it and had his answers ready. His answers to the king were “Send Me” and “Give Me”!
He had the faith to challenge others. Nehemiah was a governor on official business, and had a military escort. The caravan attracted attention from the very ones who hated the Jews and wanted to keep them from fortifying their city. Sanballat was the chief enemy, and his official position in Samaria only made him that much more dangerous. Being an Ammonite, Tobiah was an avowed enemy of the Jews (Deuteronomy 23:3-4) and related by marriage to some of Nehemiah’s co-laborers (who probably leaked information to Sanballat and Geshem – who was an Arab). The Lord sent a leader to the Jews from the “outside” with new perspective and a new vision. Nehemiah rested, then in the dark of the night, he surveyed the situation. It is to the credit of the Jewish nobles that they accepted the challenge immediately and said, “Let us rise up and build!”
Their enemies ridiculed them. Nehemiah’s answer, “The God of heaven will prosper us; therefore, we His servants, will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem.
- How is your faith? Can you see the mountain that Nehemiah had to move? If you have enough faith – just a tiny amount to fill a mustard seed – you can move that mountain!
Family Time:
- The king realized that Nehemiah’s sadness was a deep sadness of heart. Why was Nehemiah sad? (verse 3)
- Nehemiah went to see for himself the true condition of the destroyed walls and burned gates of Jerusalem. What did Nehemiah want to do about this?
