Nehemiah Overcomes Inertia
Synopsis Nehemiah 2:14-3:4 7/10/2020
After inspecting the walls surrounding Jerusalem, Nehemiah approached the priests and other leaders in Jerusalem. He persuaded them to join him in reconstructing the wall around the city. So, they began building.
There were three regional magistrates who took issue with the construction project. They were Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshon. At first, they merely mocked the effort to rebuild because there was so much to do and so few people to do the work.
But the Israelites remained determined. And before very long, large portions of the walls and gates were reconstructed. Each section was rebuilt by a Jewish family or the Israelite men from a nearby town.
Nehemiah Overcomes Inertia
Nehemiah helped the people overcome inertia. Many of the Jews had returned from exile years before Nehemiah. The Temple was already rebuilt. But nothing had been done about the condition of the rest of the city.
Nehemiah brought an awareness of possibility. He recognized that nothing was impossible with God. But he also knew that inertia keeps big projects from making progress. So, he helped the people to believe that they could actually get the thing done. And this unlocked
Leadership Overcomes Inertia
Jesus once said that “all things are possible with God”. So, God can do anything. There is no theoretical dispute.
Still, we live in a world where not everything is as it should be. And very often this truth brings with it a feeling of overwhelm. The needs of our world are so many. And the problems we face are often so global.
So, my tendency is to ask, “what good could I accomplish anyway”. On my own, everything seems impossible. As a matter of lived experience, I’m uncertain God can use me to make much of a difference.
Inertia.
So, the question is; who will show us what is possible in our time? Who will cause us to stand up and start building the walls of our Jerusalem?
Without a vision the people lose restraint; but happy is the one who follows instruction.” Prov 29:18
