Lessons from Nehemiah

I taught Sunday school today based on Nehemiah 4:1-15. This is a passage in which the ruler of Samaria is trying to discourage the people working with Nehemiah to rebuild the wall.

Even though this is a passage about something which seems far in the past and very disconnected from our present day world, I think there are many messages in it for us.

• In response to the threat, Nehemiah enlists other people to help him to continue the work of God. Do we do that? Do we reach for help when we need it, or do we try to be independent and to push forward alone?
• Look at verse 9: "So we prayed to our God, and set a guard as protection against them day and night.” First they prayed. Do we respond to problems with prayer? Is it our first option? Shouldn't it be?
• After they prayed, they took action. Prayer was the preparation for their response of action.
• And then this verse: "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome." Isn't that a great sentence? Do we always remember that the Lord is great and awesome, or do forget to believe in the power of the Holy Spirit? Is that part of faith? Remembering the power of God?

Nehemiah was a great leader. He remembered that the role of a leader is not to do all of the work, but to gracefully inspire those around him to share their gifts. He knew the power of a relationship with God, and used prayer as a tool of communication with his God. He then took action (a step we sometimes forget to take). Through it all, he trusted in God and continued to believe in his power.