With the Help of our God

Nehemiah 6:15-16

“So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.”

About eighty years after Zerubbabel took the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, Nehemiah, still in Babylon, received a report that “the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates have been burned with fire”. It was also reported that the people in Jerusalem were in “great trouble and disgrace” (see Nehemiah 1:3).

When Nehemiah heard all these things he sat down and wept. He mourned, fasted and prayed before the Lord for days (Nehemiah 1:4-11). Nehemiah received the blessing of God and the favor of the King to take some men and supplies to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall.

Without a wall for defense, Jerusalem was very accessible to enemies. After inspecting the wall, and assessing the political situation with competing noble men who had mixed allegiances, Nehemiah got busy. Through prayer, God’s protection, good leadership skills, and the resources of the emperor, Nehemiah and his team completed the wall in only fifty-two days. This was accomplished in the face of great cynicism and opposition.

When we are faced with difficulties, tests and trails, if we will follow the example of Nehemiah, we will be overcomers and those around us will give God the glory and recognition He deserves.

After we pray, fast, and seek the Lord’s will, God will use the gifts He placed in us to accomplish His purposes.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Thank the Father for the talents and abilities He has given you. Tell Him you want to be utilized!

Dive Deeper: Study Nehemiah 1:3-11; Nehemiah 6.