Throughout our study of the book of Nehemiah, we have seen Nehemiah face obstacle after obstacle. He had enemies threatening and trying to distract him and his progress. The leaders of Jerusalem who were helping rebuild its wall grew tired. Many people would have given up. They would have let fear, discouragement, or exhaustion get in the way. This was not the case with Nehemiah. Throughout all of the opposition he faced, Nehemiah remained resolute. He kept going. Because he fought against opposition, he saw God do something extraordinary.
As opposition mounted to keep him from finishing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls in Nehemiah 6, Nehemiah states that he "continued the work with even greater determination" (verse 9). He refused to be sidelined or distracted. After just 53 days — less than two months — Nehemiah states that the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls was complete. Make no mistake, this timing was remarkable! As a result, people had no option but to be amazed by God. Nehemiah wrote, “When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about [the wall’s completion], they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God” (verse 16). Because Nehemiah obediently and courageously acted on his divine burden, God did something incredible. The rebuilding of the walls in such a short amount of time was nothing short of a miracle. As a result, surrounding nations marveled, both in wonder and fear, at the power and glory of God.
Imagine what would have happened if Nehemiah had given in to the obstacles surrounding him as he set out to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. Jerusalem would have remained vulnerable to attack and appeared weak to surrounding nations. Even more, God's power would not have been displayed as it was when Jerusalem's walls were miraculously restored in a short time. Indeed, when we act on our divine burdens, God's glory and power are ultimately on display for all to see, leaving people who watch God work with no excuse but to marvel at the power and glory of our God.
Take a few moments to think about the divine burden God has placed on your heart. How have you seen God at work, in both big and small ways? Make a list of all of the ways He has been at work and place that list somewhere you will see it often. Let this list be a reminder to you that God is at work as you act on the divine burden God has given you, and let it point you to praise Him for His miraculous power that is on display.
Prayer Prompt: Use this prompt to guide you as you pray.
1Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. 2 So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono.
But I realized they were plotting to harm me, 3 so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”
4 Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. 5 The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, 6 and this is what it said:
“There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. 7 He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’
“You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.”
8 I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.”
9 They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination.
10 Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.”
11 But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” 12 I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me.
14 Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me.
15 So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. 16 When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.
17 During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah. 18 For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. 19 They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me.
