Nehemiah is in the Old Testament right between Ezra and Esther. I have read it before but until this last week I have been fuzzy on the story. As a part of my morning reading, I have seen Nehemiah's relevance in a new light. I see that it gives very practical instruction on living out our faith in a world that is divided. The story begins in a time period after the Israelites have lost it all: their family members, their city, and their temple. This happened because they lost their desire for following God. Nehemiah is a Jewish survivor who lives outside of Jerusalem. He is a cupbearer to the current ruling king. He is concerned about the fellow survivors who are still in Jerusalem so he seeks out a report about them. This is the report Nehemiah receives in his own words.
Nehemiah 1:3-4 New International Version (NIV)
They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.”When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Can you see his God-given passion? His next reaction was to pray and fast over this matter. On behalf of the Israelites, he begged for forgiveness for their betrayal of God. God put in Nehemiah's heart a passion to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, a huge task for a guy who was a nobody in the current ruling system. However, he boldly went to the pagan king who he served and asked for permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the king granted his request! This set off immediate resistance in the form of two men in power named Sanballat and Tobiah who, for whatever reasons, did not want the Israelites to rebuild the Jerusalem wall.
While Nehemiah was rallying the Israelites to rebuild the wall, the angry Sanballat and Tobiah were drumming up the resistance by plotting inside infiltration of the workers with lies and deception, and physical assault. Wherever the workers turned, they were attacked by some method. But the Israelites responded in this way.
Nehemiah 4:15-18 New International Version (NIV)
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.
Nehemiah 6:8-9 New International Version (NIV)
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.”
Can you see his God-given passion? His next reaction was to pray and fast over this matter. On behalf of the Israelites, he begged for forgiveness for their betrayal of God. God put in Nehemiah's heart a passion to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, a huge task for a guy who was a nobody in the current ruling system. However, he boldly went to the pagan king who he served and asked for permission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the king granted his request! This set off immediate resistance in the form of two men in power named Sanballat and Tobiah who, for whatever reasons, did not want the Israelites to rebuild the Jerusalem wall.
While Nehemiah was rallying the Israelites to rebuild the wall, the angry Sanballat and Tobiah were drumming up the resistance by plotting inside infiltration of the workers with lies and deception, and physical assault. Wherever the workers turned, they were attacked by some method. But the Israelites responded in this way.
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.
Over and over again in the book of Nehemiah, they suffered both covert and overt attacks. However, the Israelites continued to work with constant vigilance, sometimes with half of their work crew on guard while the other half continued the building. They never let up their guard, always carrying a weapon with them even on the way to the water fountain. In a subsequent attempt to stop the building, Sanballat sent a message to Nehemiah about Jews plotting to revolt. Nehemiah's response was this.
Nehemiah 6:8-9 New International Version (NIV)
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.”
In yet another attempted to stop the building of the wall, messages were sent to Nehemiah of a plot to kill him. Nehemiah's response was not to run away or hide but to realize that the messengers were sent by the enemy and not God. Finally, the wall was finished and the enemies and surrounding nations lost their self-confidence because they realized that this work had been done by God.
What an amazing story! Retelling it moves me yet again. This story is so much like what we endure today. Anytime there is an undertaking by passionate Christ-focused people, the enemy is there attacking in covert and overt ways. Being in public education for 35 years, I see this vividly in the work that is done there. I know many Christian educators who, like Nehemiah's crew, continue to do their job with passion while holding a weapon (sometimes literally) in the other hand. There are powerful 'Sanballats' out there who, for whatever reason, want public education to fail. I could name some of them, but I won't.
Public education is often attacked by ridiculous rules and regulations, lack of funding, ridicule, lies and deception. And we are seeing assault with physical weapons far too often. Consequently, some educators are being trained to carry weapons. Yet while guarding against the enemy with their weapons, wisdom and voting rights, they continue to do their job to reach children. Why? They were given this task by God and they know God will see them through.
Public education is often attacked by ridiculous rules and regulations, lack of funding, ridicule, lies and deception. And we are seeing assault with physical weapons far too often. Consequently, some educators are being trained to carry weapons. Yet while guarding against the enemy with their weapons, wisdom and voting rights, they continue to do their job to reach children. Why? They were given this task by God and they know God will see them through.
Thank you Lord, for the victories we have had as educators. We know it is all You. Like Nehemiah, may we first seek you and second, be wise and vigilant.
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| A memorial to educators who have given the ultimate sacrifice to their profession and students. Picture by Jbaldwi1 |
All scripture references are from New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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