Nehemiah 6:10-7:3, Finish the Race (5)

There is yet another obstacle thrown at Nehemiah and the people, and it is again an attack on Nehemiah.  The bullies tried to distract him (6:1-4) and then falsely accused him (6:5-9).  Now they try to intimidate him and destroy his testimony among the people (6:10-14).  All these attacks on Nehemiah have something to do with trying to make him and/or the people afraid. 

As we write this, we are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic (at least some are in the midst of it; others have said it’s over and we just need to live with the covid).  There has been a lot of fear-mongering through this entire situation which has been going for almost two years now.  Today’s news has a story of a national leader who had her picture taken with a class of school kids.  The kids all have on masks; they are required to have them.  This lady agrees with the “mask mandate” for kids.  But the lady herself is not wearing a mask.  So many are criticizing her and even ridiculing her for such hypocrisy.  She is not the first to expect people to wear masks and yet to be seen without a mask.  The lady is also running for governor of her state.  This photo says something about her leadership ability.

This is what confronted Nehemiah.  Again, the bullies are at work, but through a Jewish man who was a “secret informer” (v10) for the enemy.  He tells Nehemiah he wants to talk with him, and that they should meet in the temple, with the doors shut, because the enemy is coming to kill him.  The attack is obvious.  Everybody who had been working on the wall had a reasonable fear of a terrorist attack.  If Nehemiah hides out in the temple, what does that say to the rest of the people?  It would have destroyed Nehemiah’s testimony. 

In “servant leadership” example is everything!  Here is how Paul put it to Timothy: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim. 4:16).  In the Church a leader leads not only by his teaching/preaching sound doctrine; he must lead by his life.  That’s why the qualifications for Elders (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1) are mostly related to his life and lifestyle.

Again, Nehemiah stayed the course.  He refused the offer of protection and then found out that the man was a deceiver after all.  Again, Nehemiah gives the matter to the LORD, asking Him to remember the bullies as well as prophets from within the people of Israel “who would have made me afraid” (v14).

The result?  The wall was finished in 52 days.  The enemies had no choice but to conclude, “this work was done by our God” (v16).  With that, Nehemiah turned the city over to his brother who had made him aware of the need in Jerusalem (1:2), Hanani, as well as to another man, Hananiah, and I love this, who “was a faithful man and feared God more than many” (7:2).