Pray and Work, the Inspiring Example of NehemiahSýnishorn

Acknowledging God’s work, but not Himself

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.” (Nehemiah 6:15-16)

When the Jews began to rebuild their city walls, their enemies mockingly asked, “What are these feeble Jews doing? ... Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”

Only 52 days after the first stones were laid, the city wall was finished. When the enemies learned that, their mocking was over. They became afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem. They could no longer deny that something special was going on here. This must have been God's work, otherwise it was impossible to rebuild the entire city wall in such a short time and despite so much opposition.

We see a similar reaction among the inhabitants of Jericho as the Israelites approached their city. They had heard about the miracles God had done for His people, and said: “As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath.”

Unfortunately, in neither group do we read that they acknowledged the Lord God as their God. They saw His mighty deeds, but did not submit to Him. What a tragic story! Do you think that something like this would happen today?