rebuilding the wall, part 4

Upon undertaking the journey to Jerusalem, the first thing Nehemiah encountered was not a warm reception or unparalleled success, but opposition. In the nearly 150 years which had elapsed since the destruction of Jerusalem and exile of its people, opportunist outsiders had colonized the region. Nehemiah’s advent represented the third wave of returnees, and the squatters found their stakes increasingly threatened. Predictably, their reaction was hostile.

 

Jesus warned his disciples, and they reiterated the warning, that his followers will face opposition: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first” (John 15:18, NLT; cf. 1 John 4:13). With the advent of Jesus, God announced that he was taking back what was once his; he began the rebuilding of a broken-down world. Yet there always have been, and always will be, those who defy him. When we build Kingdom outposts among us, we will be countered. Expect it. Prepare for it. Welcome it – because it means we are doing something right. Make no mistake; “thy Kingdom come” disturbs and uproots and displaces. Such is necessary to make room for the change and the life it brings.

 

In Nehemiah’s case, the backlash came from people in high places (2:10). Sanballat was governor of Samaria, Judah’s northern neighbor. And Tobiah was likewise a high-ranking official, probably the governor of the Transjordan region. These men made no effort to hide their dissatisfaction with the rebuilding project. But Nehemiah had the authorization of the king. When it comes to doing God’s work, we must remember that we have the backing of the King. We may come up against powerful antagonists, but in those moments of conflict, let us ask: Who is greater – those standing in our way or the one who has our back?

 

Interestingly, Scripture gives no record of Nehemiah responding with diplomacy or conciliation. He wasted no time on such measures, knowing his opponents would be happy with nothing less than the subjugation of his people. So his first response was simply to ignore them. Amidst their protests, he rode to Jerusalem where he surveyed the extent of the damage and the work to be done (2:11-15). He pressed on. He realized that yielding, even for a moment, was playing into their hands. Each day the walls were not being rebuilt was one more day that God’s people remained captive. Do we share this sense of urgency and resolve? Do we realize that our mission is the one begun by Jesus – proclaiming freedom to the captives (Luke 4:18)? Our enemy desires no less than the enslavement of God’s image-bearers.

 

Later, when hostilities escalated, Nehemiah was forced to change tactics. With adversaries throwing around words like “rebellion” and “treason” he could no longer remain silent in the forum of public opinion (2:19). Still, he did not waiver, and he did not react predictably. Because he had the blessing of the king, we might expect him to counter by producing official documentation bearing the royal insignia. Instead, he went straight to the top: “The God of heaven will help us succeed” (2:20).

 

There are at least two reasons for this. First, he recognized the protests as a pretext; the bottom line was a hatred of God’s people and purpose. So Nehemiah invoked the necessary authority: “You may hate us, and you may hate what we are doing, but hatred cannot stop God. We will prevail.” Second, it shows that he depended upon God – and not the king – for his vindication.

 

Friends, the battle for the hearts and souls of people is very real. And as we proclaim the Gospel, we are certain to encounter opposition. Let us not be discouraged when it comes, but remain focused and resolute. Let us press on, knowing that the coming of the Kingdom changes everything. Let us join our God in rebuilding this fallen world.

rebuilding the wall, part 3

Nehemiah knew where God was leading him, so while he waited patiently in executing the plan, he wasted no time putting it together. There were numerous considerations to be taken into account. How long would the rebuilding take? Would the project be undertaken all at once or in stages? Who would provide the labor required for such a monumental task? How would the laborers be paid and housed? In all of these questions, it should be noted that Nehemiah didn’t equate faith with a lack of preparation. In other words his attitude was not, “I trust God; he will take care of the details.”

 

That Nehemiah was meticulous in his preparation is evidenced in his response when the opportune moment arose. Upon sharing his vision with Artaxerxes, the king wanted more information before making a decision: “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” (2:6a). Scripture doesn’t record Nehemiah’s exact answer, but we can be sure of what he didn’t say – “I’m not really sure yet, but I’ll be back whenever I finish.” This was the king of Persia, the most powerful man in the world. He didn’t deal in vagaries or imprecisions; his empire had not been won by ambiguous ideas, but by calculation and foresight. Any proposal that did not reflect equal deliberation was sure to be vetoed. Nehemiah, then, had to demonstrate the credibility of his plan in clear, precise terms. And his ability to do so earned the king’s approval (2:6b).

 

Not only was he prepared with a timeline, he also managed to secure from the king carte blanche to travel across the empire and gather needed building materials. Artaxerxes even went a step further, providing a military escort to Jerusalem. All this was, of course, the result of God’s favor (2:8c). But it was also the product of Nehemiah’s thoughtful efforts.

 

Nehemiah’s example underscores an important truth: Visions do not become reality through whims or wishes. One may begin with desire, but that is only the seed. If it is to flourish, aspiration must be married to determination. The work of a visionary is just that: work. Speaking into existence what doesn’t yet exist is not the domain of the lazy. It is hard, back-breaking, callous-laden labor.

 

Furthermore, believing is not synonymous with aimless waiting. Trusting in God and laboring for a desired end are not mutually exclusive pursuits. Before a building can be constructed its foundation must be laid; a footer is dug and poured and block is stacked. In construction terms, the foundation rests on virgin ground – hard, compact soil that is undisturbed and will bear the building’s weight. In visionary terms, laying a stable foundation requires breaking new ground. This might necessitate digging deep, past tradition and preference and comfort to a base undisturbed by assumption. Or it may mean a complete shift, a relocation of priorities and goals. Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that vision inhabits the realm of impossibility so long as it has no underpinning in reality. As Jesus said, only fools build without a firm foundation (Matthew 7:26-27).

 

My father-in-law once shared a story of his own experience with me. He dreamed of building a two-car garage on his property. But a large tree stood on the site of his planned construction. So he cut it down. Later, when the town was replacing curbs along the property line, he asked them to put in a wide curb cut where the driveway would be. He had not begun building, but in a very real sense he was already laying the foundation; he saw what could be and began to make room for it. Today, a large garage stands in the place once inhabited by a vision and its obstacles.

 

Friends, what labors is God calling us to? Where is he telling us to plan, to dig, to see past what is to what could be? Let us not shy away from industry, but partner with him building the Kingdom here.