It is a sad fact of human nature that, in the end, the will of ‘the flesh’ tends to resort to brute force to achieve its ends. ‘Might is right’ has caused untold suffering over the centuries, but nothing much changes under the sun. Our ‘civilised’ world today has more wars currently than for eighty years, and no doubt as many as there were 2,500 years ago, in the time of Nehemiah. Our sinful nature doesn’t really change – unless God intervenes, which of course is the heart of our good news.
It is perhaps almost inevitable, therefore, that the initial success of the rebuilding project, as described yesterday, leads to the fourth and most severe level of opposition – actual physical threat: (v8) ‘They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem.’ This was particularly alarming given two specific practical challenges: first, weariness – (v10) ‘the strength of the labourers is giving out’; and second, over-stretched capacity – (v19) ‘the work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated.’
Again, Nehemiah’s response is both prayerful and practical: (v9) ‘But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.’ In fact, this courageous and common-sense approach is fine-tuned with two further tweaks: everything is organised into shift patterns, so that some work while others guard (vv16-18), round the clock if need be (v22); and a watch is posted with an early warning system (a loud trumpet!), so that if one place is attacked, the guard can move quickly along to defend it (vv18-20).
As we see day in, day out, Nehemiah’s approach is a wonderful blend of faith and planning: ‘Pray as if everything depended on God; act as if everything depended on you,’ is a maxim which we can see brilliantly illustrated in Nehemiah’s case… except that Nehemiah never loses sight of who ultimately delivers success: when he gives a much-needed pep talk to the tiring workers, he points their gaze upwards as well as outwards: (v14) ‘Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome.’ Similarly, he reminds those who might have to fend off attacks: (v20) ‘Our God will fight for us!’
Nehemiah chapter 4 is a model of how to stay both faithful and fruitful under intense pressure. You may be in such a season; if so, be inspired by Nehemiah’s wisdom and witness. If not, then take a moment today to pray for Christian leaders everywhere. Their task of partnering with God in building His Kingdom may be a spiritual rather than a physical one, but it requires much the same mindset and many of the same skills and gifts. May we all have grace to ‘remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,’ and may this inspire our work, however great or small, today.