Fifty-two thousand captives had left Persian captivity and returned to Judah. King Cyrus had ordered that anyone who wanted to go should be allowed to leave. Fifty thousand left with Zerubbabel. Two thousand left later with Ezra. Nehemiah had undoubtably had the option to leave when the others did, but he chose to stay.
Nehemiah had a good thing going in the capital at Susa and he knew it. He was the cupbearer. That may sound like he was insignificant, but far from it. Next to the queen, he probably had more access to the king than anyone else. The king trusted him with his life -- literally. Nehemiah managed the meals at the palace. Part of his responsibility was to be sure that everything that the king ate was safe. Attempts to assassinate the king were not uncommon. The threat of poisoned food was real. Nehemiah would put his life on the line each day, testing the food, assuring the king that it was safe for consumption.
Nehemiah was obviously dependable, trustworthy, and responsible. He was a man of integrity and honor. He had strong convictions about doing the right thing. When he heard the news that the wall around Jerusalem was still down, Nehemiah was heartbroken. He was grieved to hear that the city and its people were left without the defense that the wall would provide. He felt a deep sense of urgency that something had to be done, and that he was the one that had to do it.
The wall would be the only thing that would stand between the city and its enemies. The people had to have someone to lead them in building the wall. Nehemiah felt the weight of a need that they had ignored.
After spending time in prayer, Nehemiah took a chance and made a bold request of the king. It was a risky thing to do, but Nehemiah knew that he had to do something. His people were in need.
He took a risk, and the king showed him favor. He gave him permission and provisions to go to Jerusalem and build the wall. Nehemiah was a pioneer mission worker. He led a small construction team that, with the help of the Jews who were already in the city, accomplished more than it would seem possible.
In 52 days, they built a wall 15 feet thick and 4.5 miles long. It is impressive to think how much they accomplished in such a short period of time. It is amazing what can happen when God empowers and equips.
Nehemiah felt compelled to build a wall that would defend the city of Jerusalem and its people. He knew that without the wall, the people were vulnerable and subject to attack. The wall was important to keep them safe from their enemies.
Walls. People build walls to keep some things in and other things out. Walls are important. We have to put walls around those things we think are important.
God continues to call wall builders. He continues to place in people's heart the sense of urgency to respond to others who are needy and vulnerable.
What has God put in your heart? What need pulls at your heartstrings? What concerns come to your mind time and time again during your quiet time? What has come to your attention that you just can't forget about?
Does it seems impossible? Maybe. Building a 4.5 mile long wall that is 15 feet thick in 52 days sounds impossible to me.
So does the possibility of a girl from Brunswick, Georgia, going to Egypt all alone with just $100 to her name and starting an orphanage. But that is what Lillian Trasher did. In 1910, 10 days before she was to be married, Lillian responded to the call to build a wall in Egypt. To build a wall of protection around children who were dying with no one to care for them. She called off her wedding and answered God's call. She left against the wishes of her family to build an orphanage that since it started has housed 25,000 children. Lillian Trasher was a wall builder.
God is still calling people to do what may seem impossible or at least improbable. Is he leading you to give your time? Your money? Your skills? Your gifts? Your prayers?
What wall is God calling you to build?
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