Friday, February 10, 2012

Discouragement from all sides

[10 ] And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. [11] And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease. [12] And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. [13]Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. [14] And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. [15] And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. Nehemiah 4:10-15

Discouragement is heard from all sides. The people of Judah said, “We will not be able to build the wall, there is so much rubbish”. The adversaries (enemy) also had much to say, “They won’t know what hit them, we will get in the middle of them and kill them and the work will stop.” The Jews came ten times and begged them to stop the work because the builders were in danger.

Nehemiah is not just hearing negative comments from the enemies but from the very ones he came to help. It appears he turns a deaf ear and makes plans to continue with the work. He gathers the people and gets them ready with weapons to defend themselves, if necessary.

When done with the preparations to get ready for a conflict, he meets with the leaders. “Don’t be afraid; remember Who is on our side. He will fight for us and our families.” Ever the cheerleader and encourager, Nehemiah speaks comforting words.

The enemy gets word that God is on the side of Nehemiah and the workers. Amazing that the enemies found out that the people knew the plan; this was a day without radio, newspaper or even pony express. They knew because somehow God let it be known. “I will not let you mess with my people.”

I believe Nehemiah was in the center of the will of God. The Lord gave him peace in the midst of opposition.

We serve the same God today; He is with us no matter what we are going through. God is the God of the hills and the valleys. He is with us in the “up” times; He is with us in the “down” times.

We need to be like Nehemiah. Trust in God all the time and He will see you through.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7

Have a blessed day,
Donna

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