Nehemiah: Rebuilding the WallsSample

Nehemiah’s project to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem was not without opposition. We first meet Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite in chapter 2. Even before Nehemiah started rebuilding the walls, these men heard of his journey and the support of the King of Persia and were disturbed. The Horonites and the Ammonites were descendants of the people driven out of the land of Israel when God fulfilled his promise to give it to his people (see the book of Joshua for the story), and they must have been pleased that their ancient enemies were living in such poor conditions and were so vulnerable to attack. They were not happy at all that someone was coming to change that situation.

Once the rebuilding was underway, these men became angry. They mocked and ridiculed the people of Jerusalem, making fun of their religious practices and their rebuilding attempt. As the wall grew, they joined forces with others and began to violently attack the city.

Nehemiah’s first reaction was to turn to God in prayer. He was sure that God was with his people and that the rebuilding project was what God had called him to do. He could remember the way in which God had been with him, granting him the favor of the King of Persia and of the leaders in Jerusalem. So he could pray with confidence, knowing that their enemies were sinners and that God would deal justly with them. As he prayed, he also took action, posting guards around the city. As the attacks intensified, he set up a well-organized defense system, with half the workers building the wall and half ready to fight off the enemies, with guards posted at the most vulnerable places, and with a trumpeter prepared to call the people together to fight when an attack took place.

We will often face opposition as we set out on the mission that God has called us to, especially from those who profit from the oppression and weakness of others. Like Nehemiah, we can respond with both prayer and action, confident that God will give us the victory, but well-organized and strategic in the way that we respond to attacks. As Nehemiah encouraged the people of Jerusalem, we need not be afraid of those who oppose us because the Lord is great and awesome.