Continuing our observations from Nehemiah, we have “everyone on the wall” in chapter 3. Chapter 4 presents opposition. Seth Godin wrote recently about speed bumps and obstacles. An obstacle stops you; a speed bump just slows you down.

Speed bumps are real. They’re a warning, or they’re unavoidable, and they hurt. Speed bumps cannot be denied. A speed bump that stops us from going is an obstacle. Often, the only difference between a speed bump and an obstacle is our decision about which one it is. – Seth Godin, August 15, 2021

Early in the book of Ezra, when the people were challenged, they stopped rebuilding the temple. An obstacle.

Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. (Ezra 4.24, ESV)

Not Nehemiah. In chapter 4 he pushes through the speed bumps.  

• In 4.1 – 5, we have ridicule. Nehemiah prayed against it, and they kept working.
• In 4.6, we have that the work had started well, completed to half its height and joined together. “The people had a mind to work.”
• In 4.7, 8, we have threats. Nehemiah prayed AND set a guard. That’s typical Nehemiah. Pray AND act. Trust God, but do your part.
• In 4.10, we have discouragement. We’re tired, and there’s too much rubble. Frank Tillapaugh pointed out years ago it’s not like trucks were coming into Jerusalem to dump rubble. There had to be less rubble with the wall half built then there was when they started.

Nehemiah 4:10 (ESV) In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”

• In 4.11 – 23, we have Nehemiah organizing to meet the threat while still continuing work on the wall. They installed a communication plan. They went to alternate shifts. Nehemiah executes a plan AND trusts God: 

When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” (Nehemiah 4.15 – 20, ESV)

And in chapter 6, when the wall was finished, everyone knew it was “with the help of our God.” The speed bumps didn’t deter Nehemiah from finishing the wall.

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, ESV)

You’ll notice we’ve skipped chapter 5. There was an obstacle. Nehemiah stopped building the wall because of it. Come back tomorrow!