Days 3 & 4

The 19 Days of Nehemiah continue...

Plenty to consider in Days 3 & 4.

Day 3:

In Nehemiah 2:11-20, Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem and takes stock of the situation. He makes his assessment at night with a small group of men to avoid calling attention to himself and the work.

This chapter sets up the conflict that is to come later with Sanballat.

Nehemiah says to the men with him "Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace."

He still has God's interests and glory in the center of his mission and shares his vision with the people around him. Their response is to start to rebuild.

Day 4:

The text is Nehemiah 3, and Nehemiah includes many of the people's names who rebuilt the wall.

He also includes some who were there, but didn't build the wall for some reason or another. In verse 5: "The next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their nobles would not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors."

No details as to why, but it appears that the nobles didn't want to get their hands dirty. Perhaps they were O.K. with the current situation and didn't want it to change. He shamed them.

What I latched on to with this chapter was how the work was done - in sections and districts. He even mentions that certain people repaired the wall "opposite their house".

And isn't that how God wants us to work many times? Be responsible with what you have in front of you. Your work. But putting it all together it comprised a large body of the wall being rebuilt.

Nehemiah also had a wonderful strategy by breaking it down into smaller doable pieces instead of the ONE BIG THING. The OBT would be too daunting and individuals would lose heart. And they did it with people they knew - family, neighbors.

What work does God have before me and am I being faithful with it?