Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, it does. The story is richer, deeper, more profound, thought-provoking, life provoking and a great model of leadership. So much so that it’s hard to remember this is a story about God and not a great leader.
The wall was rebuilt. Not officially as the doors and gates had not yet been set, but the walls themselves were re-established and in their place. The enemies of Judah were desperate to stop the work. Once the doors and gates were in place, the city would not have protection. Walls alone weren’t enough, they needed the doors and gates. So the enemies tried again and again to stop them.
Four times Sanballet and Geshem sent Nehemiah messages to come meet with him in a valley of Ono. But Nehemiah wasn’t a fool. A meeting with your enemies in a valley was a meeting to do harm. So he sent letters back to them that he was too busy and couldn’t stop the work.
The fifth time Sanballet sent a letter, an open one so that others could read on the way, he accused Nehemiah of treason. That he was rebuilding to rebel against the king. It was a salacious rumor and if King Artaxerxes believed it, it could cost the lives of everyone.
But Nehemiah called it for what it was–a rumor. He new that they were just trying to intimidate him and discourage him to stop the work.
“But now, my God, strengthen me” (Neh 6:9). It was a simple prayer.
One day Nehemiah went to a house of shut-in, a prophet. The prophet said he should hide in the temple and lock himself away, as they were planning on killing Nehemiah that night. I’m sure for a moment that Nehemiah had to discern if it was true or not. Then he realized it was false because it differed from everything and in every way the Lord led him. He fruther realized that this prophet had been hired by Sanballet and Tobiah.
“He was hired, so that I would be intimidated, do as he suggest, sin and get a bad reputation, in order that they could discredit me” (Neh 6:13).
So Nehemiah shot up a prayer.
“My God, remember Tobiah and Sanballat for what they have done, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the other prophets who wanted to intimidate me” (Neh 6:14).
When Nehemiah needed the prophets for encouragement, they were swayed and prophesied against him. Not just Shemaiah and Noadiah but others as well. It was crazy times.
And then the Jerusalem miracle occured. It only took 52 days to rebuild the wall. Only 52 days!
What they had waited on for almost 100 years was completed in record time through the help of God.
Sometimes the biggest thing that holds us back is what our eyes see.
God is so much bigger than that.
