Nehemiah- Rebuilding and RenewalSample

Nehemiah’s journey brings him to Jerusalem and ‘three days later’ he begins to inspect the ‘project’ (v11-12). I wonder if three days is significant here. Three days is often used in Scripture to represent restoration, new life or resurrection. On day three of creation, life was created (Gen 1:11-13), Abraham’s test with Isaac culminated ‘on the third day’ (Gen 22:4), Israel was in the desert ‘for three days’ before God miraculously provided water (Ex 15:22-25), Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days (Jonah 1:17), and Jesus was raised from death on the third day (1 Cor 15:4).

One night, Nehemiah proceeds to inspect the wall- not telling anyone else ‘what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem’ (2:12). Nehemiah is still in the secret place, letting the burden of the Lord mature into what will become a vision from the Lord. This is the area in which I have been guilty of getting wrong in the past. I am naturally prone to welcome new ideas and fresh opportunities. When one arises, I can be very quick to share with others, and in so doing short circuit the process needed to wait on the Lord. Leadership requires that we spend time in the secret place, taking a kind of ‘three days’ for discerning, and ‘inspecting the walls’ before communicating with others.

Once Nehemiah has journeyed privately with the Lord, he then informs the leaders of the people- setting forth a vision: ‘let us rebuild’ (v17), and sees answers to the prayers that have led to this moment (v18a). ‘They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” (V18b NLT).

This high point of vision, answered prayer and unity is immediately challenged by the enemies to God’s work: ‘they scoffed contemptuously’ (NLT).

Reflect:

What is your usual response when new ideas or fresh opportunities emerge? Are you all-in quite quickly, measured in your response, or do you drag your feet?

How do you usually discern God’s leading in your life? What has helped you know His will in the past?

Have you ever had any ‘third day’ experiences? Times when you had been waiting for breakthrough, or answers to prayer, and all of a sudden it seemed to come?