Strengthening hands
This week is on Nehemiah 6:1-9:
Nehemiah was the guy who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Naturally the people in the surrounding areas saw that as a threat. They conspired to lure him out of the city and into the countryside where they could assassinate him. When that didn't work, they began to spread false rumors in the hopes of getting him in trouble with the king. At very least, they hoped to dishearten him so much that he wouldn't complete the work he set out to complete.
I like that Nehemiah's only action was to pray for his hands to be strengthened. A lot of people would have asked God to destroy their enemies, or to fix their reputation, or would have simply dove into the situation themselves to try to fix it. Nehemiah's prayer was basically "I have work to do and am almost done with it. Give me the strength to finish."
As it turns out, it was the right thing to do. God strengthened Nehemiah's hands. The people coming against him amounted to nothing. The rumors never managed to influence the king. And Nehemiah pressed through until the gates were in place and the walls of Jerusalem were secure.
Sometimes we get worked up over nothing. It seems like something, like most threats do. But ultimately it amounts to nothing. God protected Nehemiah as he finished the work he started out to do. Fears and threats amount to nothing before God's power. If he gives us work to do, we will fulfill our purpose. Pray God strengthens our hands for whatever that purpose is.
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”
But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written:
“It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”
I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”
But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”
Nehemiah was the guy who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Naturally the people in the surrounding areas saw that as a threat. They conspired to lure him out of the city and into the countryside where they could assassinate him. When that didn't work, they began to spread false rumors in the hopes of getting him in trouble with the king. At very least, they hoped to dishearten him so much that he wouldn't complete the work he set out to complete.
I like that Nehemiah's only action was to pray for his hands to be strengthened. A lot of people would have asked God to destroy their enemies, or to fix their reputation, or would have simply dove into the situation themselves to try to fix it. Nehemiah's prayer was basically "I have work to do and am almost done with it. Give me the strength to finish."
As it turns out, it was the right thing to do. God strengthened Nehemiah's hands. The people coming against him amounted to nothing. The rumors never managed to influence the king. And Nehemiah pressed through until the gates were in place and the walls of Jerusalem were secure.
Sometimes we get worked up over nothing. It seems like something, like most threats do. But ultimately it amounts to nothing. God protected Nehemiah as he finished the work he started out to do. Fears and threats amount to nothing before God's power. If he gives us work to do, we will fulfill our purpose. Pray God strengthens our hands for whatever that purpose is.
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