Year of the Bible: Part Six of Twelve Sample

Nehemiah's Disappointment

The anger Nehemiah showed in the final passage of his book can be startling. When a mission does not go as planned, discouragement in the leader is often the result. Nehemiah was a great leader. He was a man with a plan, and he took great pains to make sure all his ducks were in a row! Yet, the people did not respond with loyalty to God.

Nehemiah's rampage was wild, striking people and pulling out their hair in uncharacteristic behavior. The Hebrew language described the hair-pulling as "to make bald and polish." Nehemiah wasn't just yanking; he was taking angry action and rubbing it in! His actions seemed to be purposeful and thorough. He declared that though he had purified the people, he could not change their hearts!

When we step back to look at the context, why was Nehemiah angry? The reason was not only that the Israelites had returned to their land and gone right back to sin. It wasn't just that they were not doing what God told them to do. Those actions were compounded by the fact that the people were not fulfilling the purpose to which God had called them. The Torah was intended to set the Israelites apart so they would be a light to all nations, thus, drawing those nations to the one true God!

Nehemiah did not go on a rampage of purification just to blow off some steam. He was angry because the people were disloyal to God and His call on their lives. Their hearts were not set toward the One who had chosen them. Jesus came to make us pure and justify us. We don't have to follow a list of rules to obtain salvation. Yet, He wants our loyalty to Him in spirit and truth so that He can draw others to Himself through us.

Question: How have you been loyal to God? Are there ways you are being disloyal to the call of God on your life? We are simply to allow Him to be glorified in us. The choices we make can glorify us, or they can glorify Him.

Prayer: Ask God to show you the places where you are not loyal in your heart. He is not as concerned with behavior. He wants your heart. Take some time to realign your heart and loyalty to Him.

Special Assignment: This week, watch for an opportunity to lovingly defend God's name when someone expresses something about Him that is not true.