Is This An Impossible Task?
Good Morning Friends,
Nehemiah’s hope filled visionary leadership is a powerful example of Kingdom building…It is seen through the eyes of tears and the eyes of God. It is an example of the power of trying what has not been tried… of being noble about a cause. It teaches us how to prepare for and respond to a world that questions when we are engaged in something new. And we ask ourselves: Is This An
Impossible Task?
Scripture: By you I can crush a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.
2 Samuel 22:30 (NRSV)
The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capital, one of my brothers, Hanani, came with certain men from Judah; and I asked them about the Jews that survived, those who had escaped the captivity, and about Jerusalem. They replied, “The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. I said, “O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place at which I have chosen to establish my name.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great power and your strong hand. O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!” At the time, I was cupbearer to the king.
Nehemiah 1:1-11 (NRSV)
In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was served him, I carried the wine and gave it to the king. Now, I had never been sad in his presence before. So the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This can only be sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should my face not be sad, when the city, the place of my ancestors’ graves, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” Then the king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor with you, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves, so that I may rebuild it.” The king said to me (the queen also was sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a date. Then I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may grant me passage until I arrive in Judah; and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, directing him to give me timber to make beams for the gates of the temple fortress, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the gracious hand of my God was upon me. Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent officers of the army and cavalry with me. When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
Nehemiah 2:1-10 (NRSV)
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NRSV)
Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Proverbs 29:18 (NRSV)
Message: Proverbs tells us that where there is no prophetic vision, the people perish. It follows that the most hopeless people are those with a problem and no vision. Vision helps us push through the problems and gives us the energy for the effort. We each have a role in rebuilding the broken world. We just have to identify a problem within our scope of influence…we have to see the need…feel the need and share the need with those who can be part of the solution. Unless our hearts are broken over the need it may indeed be hopeless. But if we love, then we can discover and follow God’s vision remembering that God specializes in things once thought impossible… whether it is flying to the moon, transplanting a heart, sending an email or even responding to our deepest desires. Amazing things happen when we use our influence to bring power and ideas to the table so God is glorified in our actions. Failure and fear can certainly confront us when we speak up…when we seek the welfare of others. But the real trouble comes in the implementation. Today’s text gives us guidance on how to tackle those tough jobs. Sometimes it requires waiting. Sometimes it requires trusting. Sometimes it requires praying. Sometimes it requires planning. Here we learn that we can use all these tools as opportunities to testify to God’s grace as we go about replenishing our provisions, engaging others and assessing the needs first hand. Then comes the real trouble as we recruit others in a passion larger than we are. Here we are called to see things from a spiritual perspective as well as a physical one. Here we are called to be aware of the spiritual opportunities and challenges as we confront opposition so that in time we can testify to the glory of God. Prayer plus action builds the vision that God helps us discover and fulfill. When God’s people work together, we can accomplish great things. We can solve huge problems and overcome fearsome opposition when each of us does our part. Together we can defeat discouragement. So don’t leave your post. There is a job to be done.
Pray that we have a visionary prayer that exalts God…admits sin…reviews truth, requests help from God and shares the need with others. Pray the vision we have been given matures us so that all things good become possible. Pray that we are prepared for a work that exceeds our ability and we believe that God will make up the difference.
Pray that when, in our daily activities, opportunity strikes we have the courage to speak up. Pray we are concerned enough about the problems of others to take action. Pray we have a strong conviction about God’s character. Pray we confess our sins. Pray we have confidence in God. Pray we have a commitment to get involved. Pray we inspire confidence in others. Pray that when we face challenges that seem overwhelming that we not be discouraged. Pray we realize that God has already foreseen and prepared for everything. Pray we realize that God has never failed us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 