Just recently I decided I wanted to read through the Old Testament as a story instead of reading to “get something out” of a specific verse or chapter. So I just started reading and I’ll just go as long as I can. Some days I can read entire books, while others are a little more difficult with all the genealogies. Overall, it’s been a fascinating way to read the Scriptures in a new light and really see all the chapters and verses as an interconnected story like it should be.
So today, I’ve been reading through Nehemiah. There’s so many things that fascinate me about this book, but there are tons of commentaries by men much smarter than me, so I’ll just point out a couple of things I’ve learned by listening to Nehemiah’s story.
First, one of the biggest ways we are attacked are by discouraging words from other people. Think about it. If Satan can stop us before we even start, or can get us to quit somewhere along the way with nothing but words, then that sounds like a great strategy. Maybe that’s why sarcasm can be so funny but so belittling and wrecking at the same time (just as tough to read as it is to write). This whole story is about God putting some ridiculously HUGE task on someone’s heart and his quest to accomplish it. Needless to say, Nehemiah is constantly mocked, threatened, and ridiculed by everyone around him through out the whole process. Not really the “encouraging work environment” we all feel entitled to.
Second, Nehemiah’s response to those words give us a clear example of how to combat the lies. Critics will always be around and as people, we will always have things in us and things we do that can be criticized. However, no word can stand against a burden for God if we’ll just remember the promise He gave us. If you’ve got a few extras minutes, check out chapter 9 of this book and look at God’s track record with His promises.
Finally, as I read this, I can’t help but see the relevance to our modern day lives. We may not be rebuilding a city under a tyrant, but God puts huge dreams and burdens on our hearts because we are His hands and His feet. I understand that God is a big God and can accomplish anything He wants, but this is the main reason my page here is called “no rock should cry…” It’s because God could use the rocks to cry out for Him, but as a dreamer and a son of THE King, I want to live a life that keeps them silent.
I know I sound like a broken record with this dream thing, but God doesn’t burden our hearts to get us to think about things. He does it get us involved in what He’s doing. Nehemiah wasn’t alone when he set out to rebuild the walls because other people were burdened for the same thing. Sure the dream was much bigger than him, that’s why he wasn’t the only one burdened for it. Start taking the steps of obedience and you’ll realize the army you have around you, no matter how lonely it may feel. Don’t let words or lies meant only for destruction paralyze you before you ever take a step…
