Nehemiah is one of a select group in Scripture who runs in the company of men like Joseph and Daniel, and women like Deborah and Ruth. The Bible records nothing negative about this group though we know they were all sinners in need of a Savior. All we read of them are of the wonderful things they did for and in the name of the Lord.
The book of Nehemiah is a story of courage, boldness, steadfastness, and faithfulness in spite of incredible and growing opposition to the work of God. His story begins in the palace of the king of the Persian Empire, Artaxerxes. Having heard of the condition of Jerusalem, Nehemiah could not hide his despair from the king and appeared before him with a sad countenance, which was a violation punishable by death or banishment.
Yet, because of his proven faithfulness to the king even as a captive, he asks the king to show him favor. He asked that the king allow him to rebuild the wall and much of the city of Jerusalem, and that he finance the project, which he did.
Nehemiah 6:1-4 KJV – “Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.”
This reminds us that opposition to the Jews returning to their national homeland is nothing new. Nehemiah teaches all of us some vital lessons when opposition comes our way as Christians. There are two things we can always count on when seeking to answer Godโs call on our lives: 1) There will always be opposition and 2) The power to do what Heโs called us to do is greater than any and all of those who oppose His plans.
Answering Godโs call is not always easy and can even involve perils, as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:26, but no matter what the task or the number of those who oppose it, this will always be true:
1 John 4:4 KJV – “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
Remember, the One in and with you is greater than all who are after you!
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
