June 8, 2023

Nehemiah 2:11-18 (HCSB)
Preparing to Rebuild the Walls
11 After I arrived in Jerusalem and had been there three days,  12 I got up at night and took a few men with me. I didn’t tell anyone what my God had laid on my heart to do for Jerusalem. The only animal I took  was the one I was riding. 13 I went out at night through the Valley Gate toward the Serpent’s  Well and the Dung Gate,  and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that had been broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.  14 I went on to the Fountain Gate  and the King’s Pool,  but farther down it became too narrow for my animal to go through. 15 So I went up at night by way of the valley and inspected the wall. Then heading back, I entered through the Valley Gate  and returned. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, for I had not yet told the Jews, priests, nobles, officials, or the rest of those who would be doing the work. 17 So I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned down.  Come, let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall,  so that we will no longer be a disgrace.” 18 I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me,  and what the king had said to me. They said, “Let’s start rebuilding,” and they were encouraged  to do this good work.

Shannon Jamison
Nehemiah is on a mission. He goes and inspects the damages, and Jerusalem was in worse condition than expected. It was in ruins. He shared with others how the God in heaven would help him rebuild Jerusalem. He also shared that the gracious hand of God was upon him and the conversation with the king. He did not complain, even though there were others that started complaining and grumbling around him regarding the work. Nehemiah did not waiver. He stayed faithful and never lost hope. He knew with God nothing is impossible. Luke 1:37: “For nothing will be impossible with God.” Why is it so hard to stay focused when we know nothing is impossible with God?