Nehemiah’s triumph
Trusted servant of a Persian monarch, Nehemiah may have seemed an unlikely choice to galvanize a demoralized people into rebuilding the ruined wall of their capital city. Having heard about Jerusalem’s devastation, this Hebrew man cherished a vision of restoration and renewal. His staunch commitment to the one God impelled him to undertake a task that could have seemed impossible (see Nehemiah 1–6).
Throughout his quest, Nehemiah relied on prayer to God for direction. Secretly surveying the damage before openly charging the people to begin rebuilding, Nehemiah was unfailingly guided by divine wisdom. This wisdom was perhaps clearest in the face of determined enemy opposition. Agents from three nations virtually surrounded the site, using mockery, intimidation, and deception to try to stop the work. Nehemiah exposed their stratagems and firmly denied these foes any civil, legal, or religious rights in the city.
Persistently calling on God and encouraging the workers, Nehemiah saw the entire project completed in 52 days. As for his adversaries, the account declares, “When all our enemies heard thereof, . . . they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.”
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