Rebuilding Despite Opposition

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days, he set out during the night with a few others. He had not told anyone what his God had put in his heart to do for Jerusalem. He took no animals except the one he was riding on. By night he went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal Well and inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire.

The inspection was secret because Nehemiah needed to understand the full extent of the damage before announcing his plan. When he gathered the people, he told them, 'You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.' He told them about the gracious hand of God on him and what the king had said. They replied, 'Let us start rebuilding.' So they began this good work.

But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed the Jews. 'What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?' Nehemiah answered them, 'The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it.'

The work began with families building the sections of wall near their own homes. But opposition intensified. When Sanballat heard they were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews before his associates: 'What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?'

Tobiah added, 'What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!'

Nehemiah prayed, 'Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads.' Then he recorded: 'So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.'

When the enemies heard that the gaps were being closed, they plotted to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble. But Nehemiah prayed and posted guards day and night. Some people grew discouraged: 'The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.'

Nehemiah stationed people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. He said, 'Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.'

From that day on, half the men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows, and armor. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked.

Nehemiah stayed with them. 'The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!' So they continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out.

Opposition came in waves—mockery, threats, discouragement, conspiracy. But Nehemiah's response never changed: pray, prepare, persevere. He combined spiritual dependence with practical action. He trusted God but posted guards. He encouraged hearts but armed hands. The work would be completed.