Christ is in the Building of the Church and of the Kingdom

BUT WHEN Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and in a great rage, and he ridiculed the Jews. Sanballat was an "outsider," an outrider, and probably had a long history of poor anger management, which was made even worse every time progress was being made anywhere. Jews to him were not just Jews, but "feeble." Yet he mused as to whether the feeble might sacrifice (because he himself never did) or might "finish in a day" what had been an ongoing project for over 100 years. The stones would be revived (not by the Jews but by their God) and the wall would be build from rubbish, the brand new from the worthless.

The Jews were "feeble" but the complainer saw fit to get the army involved, and have them prepared to crush the childish Jews. But Nehemiah knew, and he prayed. And then the building began. The people had a heart and a mind to work. This success made the detractors and plotters even agrier, as the wall rose from the ground to half it's height. These people could not possibly do it, but gradually they are, and the anger rises with each level of accomplishment.

There are those who bear the brunt of the work, and they will go on with that until they either die or are killed by those who oppose them, by entering through stealth and infiltration. No chance of a direct frontal assault, for the opposers have never fought and won a battle facing any of their enemies frontally.

It was Nehemiah's lack of fear and confidence in God which defeated the plot of the opposers and cleared the way for the prophet to implement God's assignments of work both tactically and strategically. Those who builded worked with a hand towards the plow and the other on his sword, at the same time. Those who worked alternated with those who watched, weapon at the ready and shield always in position.

And He that sounded the trumpet was by me. Here is the Lord on the scene, in the middle of the building, with the workers, and doing the work. If we do the work, God will manage the fight.

Created over 2 years ago