“Now Strengthen My Hands”

When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.”

But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.

Then, the fifth time, Sanballat sent his aide to me with the same message, and in his hand was an unsealed letter in which was written: “It is reported among the nations—and Geshem says it is true—that you and the Jews are plotting to revolt, and therefore you are building the wall. Moreover, according to these reports you are about to become their king and have even appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem: ‘There is a king in Judah!’ Now this report will get back to the king; so come, let us meet together.”

I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head.”

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”

But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

Nehemiah 6:1-9

So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.

Nehemiah 6:15

Singapore’s first Prime Minister is the man credited with making the city what it is today. Singapore grew to be rich and prosperous and one of the most developed nations in Asia. Asked if he ever felt like giving up, Lee Kuan Yew told the people, “This is a life-long commitment.”

Nehemiah, who led the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, refused to give up. He faced insults and intimidation from the enemies all around him as well as injustices from his own people. His enemies even insinuated he had a personal agenda. He sought help from God while taking every defensive step he could.

Despite the challenges, the wall was completed in 52 days. But Nehemiah’s work was not complete. He encouraged the Israelites to study the Scriptures, to worship, and to keep God’s law. After completing 12 years as governor, he returned to make sure his reforms were continuing. Nehemiah had a life-long commitment to leading the people.

We all face challenges and difficulties in life. But as God helped Nehemiah, He will also strengthen our hands for the rest of our lives in whatever tasks He gives to us.

Life’s challenges are designed not to break us but to bend us toward God.

Our Daily Bread – January 26, 2015