Read Nehemiah 6:15-19
The wall is completed. It only took fifty-two days. That’s not even two months! Granted, there were many people working on that huge project, but I’m amazed at the short duration of time it took. I don’t imagine there were any cranes or bulldozers around to help move away the debris. Construction sites would have looked a lot different back then.
One of my favorite lines in this reading is about what the enemy’s thought about this great feat. Nehemiah said, “They realized this work had been done with the help of our God.” I feel like going into my storage boxes to find my cheerleading pom poms! It’s always a victory when people who don’t belong to our family of believers (yet) recognize God’s hand at work and give him the credit. It doesn’t happen much these days.
People these days tend to take the credit themselves. There is so much focus on self. It used to be it was only infants and toddlers who believed the world revolved around them (oh, and maybe teenagers!). Now, even adults cry injustice when things don’t go their way.
We do good to remember not only who created the world and everything in it, but who it belongs to. Psalm 24:1 reads, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.” Jesus gets the nod in Paul’s letter to the Colossians. “for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)
Does thinking about God’s control over the world that belongs to him help you to marvel at what gets accomplished in your life each day? Who should be getting the credit? I know that sports figures often give God the glory for their physical prowess to play sports. That’s always refreshing to see, too.
It was interesting to see all the drama happening behind the scenes, while the project was underway. The undermining fell short of making a difference, other than to may slow down the completion date a bit. Perhaps if Nehemiah’s crew had had no interruptions or attempts to intimidate, they could have finished in 40 days (that’s a favorite number in the Bible)!
We shouldn’t rush past God’s victory here. It was really quite something to celebrate. I’m sure there was a lot of that going on, unless the people were still fearful of fallout or an attack from their enemies. It will be good to see how Nehemiah leads the people now that this project is done, and the city is safe behind the walls.
What are you celebrating with God for today? What accomplishment has he helped you realize? Do your friends and neighbors recognize God’s hand at work in your life?
Let’s pray. Lord, you are the creator of all things. I thank you for the opportunity to live in your world so I can care for your creation. Forgive me and countless others who have not necessarily taken the best care of your world. Thank you, too, for how you open my eyes each day to understand you a little more and receive your message of hope hidden in your word. May I always give you the credit for gifting me the way you have. It’s an honor and a privilege to partner with you to further your kingdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
